The 145th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Fukuoka)

Organizer: Makiya Nishikawa (Fac. Pharm. Sci., Tokyo Univ. Sci.), Yuki Takahashi (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., Kyoto Univ.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, have been demonstrated to transport functional molecules such as RNA and proteins not only in animals (including humans) but also in plants and microorganisms. These EVs are capable of transferring between cells within an organism and even across species and kingdoms, with their encapsulated molecules, which then exert biological functions in recipient cells. This underscores their potential role in transmitting information within and beyond the boundaries of biological organisms. To optimize EVs for therapeutic use, researchers may modify their surface with peptides or polymers or genetically engineer their source cells to enhance functionality, thereby improving pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy. EVs derived from various sources are garnering attention for their potential use in medical applications. However, significant challenges remain, including the scaling up of production, standardization, management of immune responses, and mitigation of side effects. Addressing these issues could facilitate the development of a new era of EV-based therapies. This symposium will present recent findings on diverse EV sources and explore the technologies and solutions necessary for medical advancements.