August 8, 2022

Aiming at Early Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine for Corneal Endothelium
Manufacturing of regenerative medical product candidate AE101 starting at J-TEC.

ActualEyes Inc. (Kyoto, Japan; President & CEO; Iku Sugioka, hereinafter "ActualEyes") started
manufacturing of a regenerative medical product candidate for the treatment of corneal endothelial
diseases (development name: AE101), which is jointly developed with D. Western Therapeutics
Institute, Inc. (Aichi, Japan; President & CEO, Yuichi Hidaka), at Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd.
(Headquarters in Gamagori, Aichi, Japan; President & CEO, Ken-ichiro Hata, hereinafter “J-TEC”).
We will promote the development of AE101 and aim at early commercialization of regenerative
medicine for corneal endothelium by outsourcing the manufacturing to J-TEC which has an extensive
track record in the development, manufacturing, and sales of regenerative medical products.
We are a bioventure company originated from Doshisha University where new ophthalmic treatment
is being developed such as regenerative medicine for overall corneal endothelial diseases and drug
therapy for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Corneal endothelium is indispensable to maintain thetransparency of the cornea. If the corneal endothelium is damaged, the cornea becomes cloudy andvision is severely impaired. Corneal endothelial damage accounts for more than half of the causes ofcorneal transplantation, and corneal transplantation due to corneal endothelial damage has been
increasing every year. Meanwhile, there is a global shortage of donors, and a novel solution is desired.
We have developed a regenerative medical product candidate AE101 which is a mixture of corneal
endothelial cells cultured from the donor cornea and ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) inhibitor and aim
at resolving the shortage of donors and achieving early commercialization of regenerative medicine
for corneal endothelium.
About corneal endothelial impairment
Corneal endothelium is positioned on the inside of the cornea (inside the eye) and is indispensable tokeeping the cornea transparency. It does not regenerate in the living body. If it is damaged by diseases,
eye surgery, etc., the cornea loses its transparency and becomes cloudy, which leads to severe visualimpairment. At present, the only treatment is corneal transplantation in which a cornea provided by adeceased donor is transplanted. However, there are problems worldwide such as lack of donors, graft
failure, rejection, and difficulty in surgery. While corneal transplantation is an essential treatment, it isactually quite a burden on patients and ophthalmologists.

About ActualEyes Inc. (headquartered in Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture)
Founded based on the research of Noriko Koizumi, M.D., Ph.D. and Naoki Okumura, M.D., Ph.D.
(ophthalmologists and professors at Doshisha University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering),
ActualEyes is engaged in research and development into both regenerative medicines andpharmacological treatments for FECD and other forms of corneal endothelial dysfunction. For more
information, please visit ActualEyes’ website (www.actualeyes.co.jp/en/).
About Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. (J-TEC)
J-TEC is a manufacturer of regenerative medical products with the corporate vision “Creating a future
for regenerative medicine,” and currently manufactures and distributes four regenerative medicine
products including autologous cultured epidermis "JACE®", Japan’s first regenerative medical product.
In addition to the regenerative medical product business (development, manufacturing, and marketingof regenerative medicine products in Japan), J-TEC is engaged in the contract business of regenerativemedicine (CDMO/CRO services related to regenerative medicine) and research and development
support business (development, manufacturing, and marketing of human cultured tissues for research).
Please visit J-TEC website www.jpte.co.jp for more information.
About D. Western Therapeutics Research Institute, Inc. (headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi
Prefecture)
Based on the vision of bringing “Innovative New Drugs to the World from Japan,” D. Western
Therapeutics Institute (DWTI) is a bioventure aiming to deliver more effective new drugs as soon as
possible to the patients who need them. DWTI’s strength is in the discovery of kinase inhibitors, someof which already have been brought to market. Currently, DWTI is focusing on the field ofophthalmology, to aid in selection of the optimal treatment for each patient. For more information,please visit DWTI’s website (www.dwti.co.jp/english/).
Contact information for inquiries about this announcement
ActualEyes Inc.
Masahiko Kato, Director, Management Department info@actualeyes.co.jp