News

New regional company will support the localization of regenerative medicine manufacturing, clinical development, and commercialization across the Middle East and North Africa

Tokyo and Abu Dhabi — September 1, 2026 — Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (“HLC-Japan”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing regenerative medicine products based on human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs), today announced the establishment of Human Life CORD MENA Limited (“HLC-MENA”) in Masdar City Free Zone, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

HLC-MENA was officially incorporated on August 12, 2026, and will serve as the Human Life CORD group’s regional operating company for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Its activities will focus on technology transfer, local GMP-compliant manufacturing, clinical development, regulatory coordination, business development, and the future commercialization of regenerative medicine products utilizing UC-MSCs across the region.

The establishment of HLC-MENA represents an important milestone in Human Life CORD’s global expansion strategy and its commitment to developing Abu Dhabi as a regional center for advanced cell-therapy manufacturing and clinical translation.

Through its planned collaboration with Abu Dhabi Biobank (ADBB), HLC-MENA aims to build an integrated regional platform covering access to high-quality umbilical cord tissue, cell processing, manufacturing infrastructure, quality management, clinical development, and product commercialization. The company also plans to work with local clinical research organizations, hospitals, investigators, regulators, and academic institutions to develop clinical programs addressing unmet medical needs in the UAE and the wider MENA region.

■ Background to the Establishment of HLC-MENA
The UAE faces significant healthcare challenges associated with lifestyle-related and chronic diseases, while continuing to strengthen its healthcare and research infrastructure with a strategic focus on life sciences, advanced medicine, preventive care, and personalized medicine. Abu Dhabi, in particular, is developing a life-sciences ecosystem that connects healthcare delivery, biobanking, genomics, health data, and research and development.

HLC has positioned the UAE as a strategic base for its expansion across the MENA region and has been building a foundation for collaboration with local partners. In May 2026, HLC further advanced its strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Biobank (ADBB) and has since been progressing initiatives toward the local manufacturing, clinical development, and commercialization of UC-MSCs.

Masdar City, where HLC-MENA is based, is home to a growing concentration of life-sciences organizations, including ADBB and M42, creating a business environment that brings together regenerative medicine, biobanking, health data, and related capabilities. Leveraging this environment, the establishment of HLC-MENA marks HLC’s transition from building partnerships in the UAE to executing concrete business initiatives. As the local operating entity, HLC-MENA will deploy HLC’s UC-MSC manufacturing and quality-management technologies and clinical-development expertise developed in Japan, with the aim of establishing an integrated framework spanning technology transfer, manufacturing, research and development, clinical development, and future commercialization.

Masamitsu Harata, President and CEO of Human Life CORD Japan Inc., commented:
“The establishment of HLC-MENA is a significant milestone in our mission to make innovative regenerative medicine products accessible to patients beyond Japan. By combining Human Life CORD’s UC-MSC technology and development experience with Abu Dhabi’s advanced healthcare and life-sciences ecosystem, we aim to establish a sustainable regional platform for manufacturing, clinical development, and commercialization.”
 

 
■ Human Life CORD MENA Overview

 
Company name: Human Life CORD MENA Limited
Date of establishment: August 12, 2026
Location: Masdar City Free Zone, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Business activities: Manufacturing, research and development, and clinical development of cell therapy products in the MENA region

■ About Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (https://humanlifecord.com/en/)
Human Life CORD Japan Inc. (HLC) is clinically developing novel cellular therapy products derived from domestically sourced, stockpiled umbilical cords, thereby providing hope to patients suffering from intractable diseases for which established treatment has not been available so far. Looking ahead, HLC is committed to advancing its vision to create a world where everyone can live a rich and fulfilling life with healthy life expectancy, through providing future healthcare aimed at preventing disease progression.
In recognition of our efforts, we have received numerous awards and distinctions: The Grand Prize & Tokyo Metropolitan Governor’s Award at “the First Tokyo Venture Corporate Championship Conference” (2019); selected as a beneficiary in the “Deep Ecosystem” program of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government “Start-up Ecosystem Tokyo Consortium”; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award at the 5th Japan Open Innovation Prize hosted by the Cabinet Office in 2023; selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for its J-Startup support program in 2023; the Grand Prize in the Startup Category at the Courageous Management Awards (2024), organized by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry; selected for the 2026 “SusHi Tech Global Startups” program by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, an initiative dedicated to accelerating the international growth of high-potential innovators.
 

 
[Press Release PDF] Human Life CORD JAPAN Establishes Human Life CORD MENA
 
[Contact]
Human Life CORD Japan Inc.
Public Relations: info@humanlifecord.com