Global Expansion of Microphysiological Systems (MPS) and Japan's Initiatives: Innovation in Pharmaceutical Development and Path to Regulatory Acceptance

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are gaining global attention as potential game-changers in pharmaceutical development. Since 2013, MPS suppliers from university laboratories in the United States and Europe have competed to develop these devices. After the development phase, the focus shifted to the accumulation of applications using MPS for pharmaceutical companies and end users. In Japan, the AMED-MPS project was launched in 2017, and since then, several MPS devices have been marketed by project participated suppliers. Initially, while Japanese pharmaceutical companies adopted foreign products, they also exhibited interest in domestically produced MPS devices. The utilization of new approach methodologies, including MPS, is expanding in the field of chemical substances risk assessment, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development test guidelines are expected to adopt in vitro evaluation systems as alternatives to animal testing. This publication reviews global and Japanese trends surrounding MPS and outlines activities aimed at the regulatory acceptance of MPS as evaluation systems for medical drugs and chemicals.