Nucleic Acid Medicine & Aptamer Information in Japan

Summary

Nucleic acid medicines are a class of drugs made from nucleic acids such as DNA or RNA; aptamers are short nucleic acids designed to bind specific molecules. This page distinguishes nucleic acid medicine in general from the specific aptamer method described by Gan Chuo Clinic Group. The clinic’s source page does not state the approval status or cost of the aptamers it uses.

Key terms and basic concepts

Nucleic acid medicines: a general term covering antisense, siRNA, aptamers and other nucleic acid-based drugs. Some have been approved in various countries, but that does not mean an individual preparation used by a particular clinic is approved.

Aptamer: a DNA or RNA fragment designed to bind selectively to a target such as a protein. The source cites research published in Nature in 1990 as the origin of this technology.

The same clinic group separately describes other nucleic acid methods such as RNA interference and miRNA mimics. This page covers only the aptamer method.

Method as described in the source (institution’s public materials)

Institution’s description

• Targets: DNA aptamers binding MUC1 isoform Y, heparanase and nucleolin.
• Selection: the type used for each patient is decided based on genetic testing or statistical genetic information.
• Administration: outpatient intravenous infusion, basically four visits per course; 2–3 hours for the first session and 1–2 hours thereafter.
• The clinic states treatment begins after explanation and signed consent.

What to confirm with the medical team

• Name, manufacturer and approval status of the aptamer preparation
• Type of test used to select targets, and how results are interpreted
• Whether it can be combined with current treatment
• How and when effect is judged, and criteria for stopping
• Total cost and criteria for additional courses

Limitations, risks and precautions

• Side effects listed by the clinic: allergic reaction or anaphylaxis (0.3% per the clinic); headache or fever related to polymer micelle formulation (15% per the clinic).
• The source lists many cancer types as treatable, but this check found no published clinical evidence supporting that.
• The source states that blood cancers and some brain tumours may not be eligible.
• General research progress in nucleic acid medicine cannot be generalised to the effect of this clinic’s specific method.

Regulatory, approval and cost information

Item	Details
Approval status	Not confirmed The source page does not state whether the aptamers used are approved.
Public insurance / self-pay	Not confirmed Not stated on the source page; confirm with the clinic.
Cost	Not confirmed Not on the source page; the clinic’s fee list was outside the scope of this check.
Advanced Medical Care status	Not confirmed No information confirmed that it falls under Advanced Medical Care.
Evidence of effect	Limited evidence / research stage Beyond the clinic’s description, no published clinical trial results for this method were confirmed.
Administration and side effects	Institution’s description Four infusions per course and side-effect rates are figures stated by the clinic.

Questions to ask the medical team

1. What preparation is the aptamer, and is it an approved drug?
2. On what basis would a target be selected for me?
3. When and how will you judge whether it is working?
4. Will it affect the treatment I am currently receiving?
5. Can you tell me the total cost and whether it is self-pay?

Source links and check date

• Source · がん中央クリニックグループ「アプタマー 核酸医薬」
  https://chuoclinic.jp/aptamer/
  Checked on: 2026-10-12

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