Healthcare Japan

Health Care News Letter Spring／Trends Watch Notes and News Clippings

• Technology to detect avian influenza viruses in about 10 minutes, developed jointly by Sysmex Co. and Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health
• Teijin Pharma and Takeda Pharmaceutical to market the gout/hyperuricemia drug “febuxostat” in the U.S.
• Acquiring the U.S. examination drug company “ADI” – Sekisui Chemical makes a full-scale entry into the U.S. market to reinforce its footing overseas

• BioAccess obtains approval for its bone marrow transplant kit, nominating Baxter as an authorized manufacturer/marketer to enable speedy distribution
• Boston Scientific Japan starts selling the next-generation drug-elution type stent “Taxus Liberte Stent System”
• Receiving high marks from U.S. clinicians for its complete set of report generation functions, and more! Release of the new medial imaging information system for circulatory medicine “SYNAPSE CardioVascular”
• New super-compact, panel-mounted printer “DPU -D Series” ideal for embedding in measuring devices, medical devices, etc.

• QLife and MIF to jointly develop management support services for hospitals, offer “online reservation for general practice" available on large hospital search sites

• Development of automatic biochemical analyzer supporting diabetes examination

• Shimadzu releases an electronic medical chart system with drug check function for clinics without beds

• New link between “Karada Karute” and “goo Karada Log” ~ First among portals! Linking health measurement devices to let users of all ages lose weight and manage their health in an easy, fun manner on an ongoing basis ~
• Development of methods to test allergic substances in food (shrimp, crab, kiwi fruit, peach, apple)

• New concentrated liquid food “Medi-F Soybag” for hospitals, care facilities, etc.
• SOFTBANK MOBILE and partners start testing for introduction of remote information security system for the hearing impaired
• Panasonic subsidiary Funcom releases an “input-assisting TV remote controller” for users with hand disability

• Top three companies dominate 92% of the X-ray system market for clinics; Buyers rarely compare different manufacturers at the time of purchase despite the high prices of these medical systems ~ Flash report of the results of a field survey on purchase of X-ray systems by “m3.com private practice/management” member doctors in private practice ~
• iPS Academia Japan receives a global license to use patents on iPS cell production for research purposes

1. Drugs Medicine

Technology to detect avian influenza viruses in about 10 minutes, developed jointly by Sysmex Co. and Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health

Traditionally, detection of avian influenza viruses required special analysis technologies such as gene amplification. However, this technology provides a simple method that only involves dropping a pre-treated specimen onto a test paper. As a result, various types of avian influenza viruses can be detected as quickly as in just 10 minutes or so. The newly developed technology distinguishes the minor differences between the proteins (nuclear proteins) present in avian influenza viruses and in human influenza viruses, and uses the differences as markers to detect only avian influenza viruses. Since nuclear proteins are more resistant to mutation, the researchers believe that this technology can be used to detect avian influenza viruses even after their surface structure (surface protein) has mutated. It has been confirmed that this technology is capable of detecting not only the “H5 subtype” virus which reportedly has high chances of mutating into a new influenza virus, but also the “H7 subtype” and “H9 subtype” viruses whose mutation possibility is also suggested, as well as many other types of avian influenza viruses.


Reference: Detection of virus according to different protein structures

Source: SYSMEX Co.
http://www.sysmex.co.jp/news/press/2009/090209.html (Japanese Site)
http://www.sysmex.co.jp/en/news/press/2009/090210.html (English Site)

Source: Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health
http://www.iph.pref.osaka.jp (Japanese Site)

Teijin Pharma and Takeda Pharmaceutical to market the gout/hyperuricemia drug “febuxostat” in the U.S.

Teijin Pharma Ltd. began selling febuxostat (general name; development code “TMX-67”; U.S. registered trademark “ULORIC®”), a new gout/hyperuricemia drug developed independently by Teijin Pharma, in the United States through Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. (Illinois, U.S.A., “TPNA”) which is a fully owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and has exclusive rights to develop and sell febuxostat in the country. Febuxostat (ULORIC®) is a new xanthine oxidase[*] inhibitor which is the first gout/hyperuricemia drug released in the U.S. in almost 40 years. It has the effect of lowering the blood uric acid levels of gout/hyperuricemia patients, and the effectiveness and safety of the drug have been confirmed by clinical tests. The test results also indicate that even patients suffering from minor to moderate renal dysfunction or hepatic dysfunction can also use the drug without having to adjust the dosage.

* Xanthine oxidase: Uric acid generating synthetic enzyme that causes gout

Source: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
http://www.takeda.co.jp/press/article_32234.html (Japanese Site)

Source: Teijin Farma Ltd.
http://www.teijin-pharma.co.jp/information/090313.html (Japanese Site)

Acquiring the U.S. examination drug company “ADI” – Sekisui Chemical makes a full-scale entry into the U.S. market to reinforce its footing overseas

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. acquired American Diagnostica Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “ADI”), a leading name in the U.S. clinical examination drug market located in Connecticut, to reinforce its footing overseas for the company’s core examination drug business. Sekisui Chemical conducts medical business through its subsidiary Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd. To expand its medical business, Sekisui will actively develop overseas markets for its products that boast the number-one share in Japan. Sekisui will draw on the products and sales networks of ADI to aggressively expand the examination drug business mainly in North America.

Source: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
http://www.sekisui.co.jp/news/2008/1192250_2231.html (Japanese Site)
http://www.sekisuichemical.com/about/whatsnew/090318.html (English Site)

Source: American Diagnostica Inc.
http://www.americandiagnostica.com/

2. Medical Devices

BioAccess obtains approval for its bone marrow transplant kit, nominating Baxter as an authorized manufacturer/marketer to enable speedy distribution

BioAccess, Inc., a U.S. company, filed an application for manufacturing/marketing (application for approval of manufacturing/marketing a foreign-made medical device under Article 19-2 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law) of its bone marrow transplant kit “Bone Marrow Collection System” in January 2009, and received approval in February 26. Following this manufacturing/marketing approval, Baxter stockpiled 600 “Bone Marrow Collection System” kits (approx. a 4 months’ supply) and immediately began supplying the products that were already in Japan. Going forward, the two companies will provide products that will help bone marrow transplant operations. They will also actively provide the necessary information, such as how to use the “Bone Marrow Collection System,” to medical facilities.

Source: Baxter
http://www.baxter.co.jp/about_baxter/news_room/news_releases/2009/090 227.html (Japanese Site)

Boston Scientific Japan starts selling the next-generation drug-elution type stent “Taxus Liberte Stent System”

In March 2009, Boston Scientific Japan K.K. began selling its “Taxus Liberte Stent System” (hereinafter referred to as “Taxus Liberte”), a coronary artery stent that elutes paclitaxel. Taxus Liberte is the first next-generation DES introduced to the Japanese market and an advanced version of “Taxus Express 2 Stent” (hereinafter referred to as “Taxus Express 2”), which is the first-generation drug-elution type stent (DES) from Boston Scientific. Taxus Liberte uses a thinner stent strut than Taxus Express 2 to achieve greater ease of insertion and excellent conformability. Its unique cell design ensures a more uniform delivery of drugs to vessels.

Source: Boston Scientific Co.
http://www.bostonscientific.jp/NewsEvents/NewsRelease.bsci? method=DETAIL&id=10115292&navRelId=1006.1017 (Japanese Site)

Receiving high marks from U.S. clinicians for its complete set of report generation functions, and more! Release of the new medial imaging information system for circulatory medicine “SYNAPSE CardioVascular”

Fujifilm Co. released through Fujifilm Medical Co., Ltd. on April 17 the “SYNAPSE CardioVascular”¹ medical imaging information system for circulatory medicine, capable of displaying, managing and measuring videos recorded from the examination of the heart, vessels and other circulatory organs, and also offering a complete set of report generation functions. This system is compatible with cardiovascular imaging systems, ultrasound diagnostic systems, nuclear medicine diagnostic systems and various other imaging diagnostic devices to support comprehensive diagnosis. Physicians can utilize a wide range of templates designed for different types of examinations to easily generate reports according to individual cases, thereby increasing the efficiency of examination. “SYNAPSE CardioVascular” can also be linked seamlessly with the PACS² “SYNAPSE”³, the number-one selling medical imaging information system for radiology in Japan. This way, hospitals can centrally manage and distribute images and allow for viewing of patient’s diagnostic images and reports in all departments, resulting in a significant improvement in the doctor’s work flow.

¹ “Cardio” and “Vascular” refer to the “heart” and “vessels,” respectively, which are the target of examination in the circulatory organs.
² Abbreviation of “Picture Archiving and Communications System.” A medical imaging information system that electronically saves, searches and analyzes examination images received from CT, MRI, CR and other medical imaging diagnostic systems.
³ The name of a PACS product by Fujifilm.



Source: Fujifilm Co.
http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/corporate/news/articleffnr_0282.html (Japanese Site)

New super-compact, panel-mounted printer “DPU-D Series” ideal for embedding in measuring devices, medical devices, etc.

Seiko Instruments Inc. released a super-compact, panel-mounted printer “DPU-D Series” in March 2009. The “DPU-D Series” is a family of panel-mounted (embedded) printer units of super-compact size including the “D2” type with a paper width of 2 inches and “D3” type with a paper width of 3 inches. The 2- inch “D2” printer requires 35% less footprint than conventional printers. The “D2,” and the newly developed 3-inch “D3,” are compact yet still accommodates 50-mm roll paper. Their printing speeds are 100 mm/sec (D2) and 80 mm/sec (D3), which are among the fastest in the industry (according to a study done by Seiko Instruments in February 2009). The user can select a parallel, serial, or newly developed USB interface (factory option). The printers can be used at temperatures as low as -10C, and can be embedded in a wide range of devices requiring a printer function, such as measuring devices and medical devices.



Source: Seiko Instruments Inc.
http://speed.sii.co.jp/pub/corp/pr/newsDetail.jsp?news=50348 (Japanese Site)

3. Health Care Services

QLife and MIF to jointly develop management support services for hospitals, offer “online reservation for general practice" available on large hospital search sites

QLife Inc., which runs a hospital search site, announced a business tie-up with Medical Improvement Facilities Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “MIF”) which is a think-tank specializing in services for medical institutions, in order to develop management support services for medical institutions and introduce them to medical institutions. The companies will also provide the first-ever online reservation function on the QLife hospital search site (http://www.qlife.jp) so that the users can “make an appointment in addition to finding a hospital.” It is rare for large hospital search sites to provide an online reservation function for general practice.

Source: QLife, Inc.
http://www.qlife.co.jp/news/090216qlife_news.pdf (Japanese Site)

4. Analytic Instruments

Development of automatic biochemical analyzer supporting diabetes examination

Hitachi High-Technologies Co. developed an automatic biochemical analyzer that automatically measures the pre-treatment (hemolysis, metmyoglobin) of HbA1c, which is considered an important key in diabetes examination, using Hitachi’s 7180 automatic analyzer already in wide use as a general-purpose automatic biochemical analyzer. The system uses an enzyme reagent (Nordia RN HbA1c) by Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd. to cut out saccharified peptide bonding with hemoglobin, causes the sampled saccharified peptide to develop color using a coloring agent, and measures the HbA1c density based on the resulting absorbance. Hitachi High Technologies will also start selling this enzyme reagent (Nordia RN HbA1c) by Sekisui Medical used by the analyzer. By selling the analyzer and reagent as a system, Hitachi High-Technologies will establish a comprehensive customer support structure encompassing all related activities from manufacturing to sale and service, in a bid to achieve greater customer satisfaction.



Sources: Hitachi High-Technologies Co.
http://www.hitachi- hitec.com/news_events/product/2009/nr20090309.html (Japanese Site)

5. Health Care Information Technology

Shimadzu releases an electronic medical chart system with drug check function for clinics without beds

On April 10, Shimadzu Co. began selling its new “SimCLINIC II Plus” electronic medical chart system for clinics without beds. The system, equipped with a new drug check function, offers registration, chart entry and receipt (medical service fee claim form) processing functions. The new function “Drug Checker” reads the name and quantity of each drug specified on the chart, checks for contraindications, checks the package insert of the drug, converts dosages for infants and small children, and confirms that the specified name of illness matches the prescribed drug and examination/treatment. Drug information can be updated online on a regular basis using a remote maintenance system. The system also comes standard with the receipt calculator function, DICOM* image receiving function and other functions that were only available as options before. With “SimCLINIC II Plus” clinics can centrally manage all data used in registering patients, entering information in medical charts, processing receipts, filing images, and more.

* DICOM Standard for medical imaging and communication



Source: Shimadzu Co.
http://www.shimadzu.co.jp/news/press/090409.html (Japanese Site)

6. Cure Services

New link between “Karada Karute” and “goo Karada Log”
~ First among portals! Linking health measurement devices to let users of all ages lose weight and manage their health in an easy, fun manner on an ongoing basis ~

Tanita Co. and NTT Resonant Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “NTT Resonant”) linked their respective services “Karada Karute (Body Chart)” and “goo Karada Log (Body Log).” The service link allows users to easily record and create graphs on “goo Karada Log” from their physical data measured by Tanita’s body constitution meters and other health measurement devices with a communication function. This is the first service offered by a large Japanese portal to link data measured by health measurement devices. “goo Karada Log” provides a community of health-conscious users who can record over 160 data items, make diary entries, and share physical data. Men and women of all ages can talk about their health to lose weight and manage health in a fun manner on an ongoing basis.

Source: Tanita Co.
http://www.tanita.co.jp/company/press/MYH090121.pdf (Japanese Site)

Source: NTT Resonant Inc.
http://help.goo.ne.jp/info/detail/1266/ (Japanese Site)

Development of methods to test allergic substances in food (shrimp, crab, kiwi fruit, peach, apple

House Foods Co. developed new PCR detection technologies(*) capable of detecting “shrimp,” “crab,” “kiwi fruit,” “peach” and “apple” among the allergic substances specified by the Food Sanitation Law. Among these, the newly developed “shrimp” and “crab” detection technology allows “shrimp” and “crab” to be detected separately, which was not possible with conventional crustacean detection technologies. As a result, food manufacturers can now provide detailed food marking based on the test results using the new technology to allow those allergic only to “shrimp” or “crab” to eat the other shellfish they can eat. House Foods will license these technologies to seek commercialization.

* “PCR allergen detection technology” refers to a detection technology that amplifies the unique DNA arrangement characteristic of each specified raw material (or equivalent substance) to determine whether or not the specified raw material, etc., is contained in the food. PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Source: House Foods Corp.
http://housefoods.jp/company/news/news2036.html (Japanese Site)

7. Welfare Products & Services

New concentrated liquid food “Medi-F Soybag” for hospitals, care facilities, etc.

In response to the need for managing low-calorie liquid foods, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. released “Medi-F® Soybag,” a concentrated liquid food that ensures an intake of necessary nutrients and approx. 900 kcal a day. This product is sold by Ajinomoto Pharma Co., Ltd. In the background of the release of this product is an increase in the number of patients and senior people who don’t need more than 900 kcal or so a day, although many existing liquid food products provide 1,200 kcal a day. If these products are taken in fewer quantities, the necessary nutrients cannot be obtained. “Medi-F® Soybag” combines nutrients in conformance with the dietary intake standard of Japan (2005 version). The protein content mainly comes from soybean. The elderly can take in sufficient amounts of those nutrients they tend to lack (sodium, zinc, vitamin Bs, etc.). The bag has a zipper and a quick-open port that can be opened easily and ensures a high level of hygiene.



Source: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
http://www.ajinomoto.co.jp/iyaku/release/090209.html (Japanese Site)

SOFTBANK MOBILE and partners start testing for introduction of remote information security system for the hearing impaired

On April 6, 2009, National University Co. Tsukuba University of Technology, SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp., NPO Nagano Summarize Center and National University Co. Gunma University began testing toward introducing the “Mobile Remote Information Security* System” for the hearing impaired to companies, educational institutions and other environments where such system will likely be used, with the aim of commercializing and popularizing the system. For example, a hearing impaired person can use the “Mobile Remote Information Security System” to listen to a lecture at a school, whereby two interpreters work together to summarize the words of the speaker and input it into a PC to display “written summary text” on the PC screen. A mobile phone is used to send the voice of the speaker to interpreters in a remote location, who will then send text data back. This way, the system allows those with hearing impairment to receive written summary text even when no interpreters are around in that location. With this system, the hearing impaired can receive written summary text even in classrooms, gymnasiums and other locations not wired by a LAN or where they cannot bring in a PC, which significantly increases their opportunities to receive information securely. There is also a plan to implement this system on the iPhone™ 3G platform, which is equipped with a large screen and enables Internet access while making a call.

Source: SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp.
http://www.softbankmobile.co.jp/ja/news/press/2009/20090406_01/index.html (Japanese Site)

Panasonic subsidiary Funcom releases an “input-assisting TV remote controller” for users with hand disability

Funcom Co., Ltd., a venture subsidiary of Panasonic Co., released on April 27, 2009 an “input-assisting TV remote controller” for the elderly, people with disability in the upper limbs, and others who have difficulty operating the buttons on conventional TV remote controllers. The new remote controller was developed through joint research efforts by Panasonic and Funcom. There are more than 500,000 people in Japan who cannot press the desired buttons on the TV remote controller due to old age or disability¹. This product has only five controls including “Power ON/OFF,” “Channel Up,” “Channel Down,” “Volume Up” and Volume Down,” so that those with physical difficulty can also use the TV remote controller with ease. It has a connection terminal to plug in various input devices that accept inputs by a fist, foot, cheek, and other parts, depending on the physical condition of the user, so that those with a hand disability can still operate the basic functions of the TV. The new remote controller is compatible with TVs made by10 Japanese manufacturers², so it can work instantly with the TVs users already have.

* Information security: To secure the “right to know” of people with disability who have difficulty collecting information, by providing information using an alternative means.
¹ Calculated based on “2008 White Paper on People with Disabilities” (Cabinet Office).
² Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Pioneer, Hitachi, Funai, Victor, and Mitsubishi. The remote controller is compatible with Panasonic TVs produced in or after 1985, and TVs produced by other manufacturers in or after 1990. Some models, such as TVs with integrated video function, are not supported.



Source: Funcom Co., Ltd.
http://www.funcom.co.jp/dl-data/NR-LR-TV01.pdf (Japanese Site)

8. Others

Top three companies dominate 92% of the X-ray system market for clinics; Buyers rarely compare different manufacturers at the time of purchase despite the high prices of these medical systems
~ Flash report of the results of a field survey on purchase of X- ray systems by “m3.com private practice/management” member doctors in private practice ~

So-net M3, Inc. conducted a field survey on the purchase of large-scale X-ray systems among doctors in private practice who had purchased an X-ray system in the past three years. According to the survey conducted by So-net M3 in March 2008, doctors who were considering setting up a private practice cited “X-ray system” as the number-one medical device they would consider purchasing should they decide to set up their own practice (66%). This result indicates the high need among doctors for X-ray systems for use in medical examination/diagnosis. The company surveyed the doctor members of its medical professional site “m3.com” who had purchased an X-ray system in the past three years, to find facts on the purchase of X-ray systems. The results showed that the surveyed doctors requested information from and made inquiries to an average of 1.53 companies before deciding on the purchase. Three companies hold a large share in this market. The doctors obtained estimates from an average of 1.1 companies. These result shows that although X-ray systems are expensive medical devices, doctors are not comparing manufacturers.

Also, approx. 66% of the doctors surveyed said that they were digitally processing X-ray images, of which 78% said that they were storing/managing X-ray images digitally. Among those who were handling analog X-ray images using films, 66% expressed a willingness to use digital images.



Source: So-net M3, Inc.
http://www.so-netm3.co.jp/press/2009/press20090217.html (Japanese Site)

iPS Academia Japan receives a global license to use patents on iPS cell production for research purposes

Takara Bio Inc. and iPS Academia Japan, Inc. signed a patent license agreement on April 7 to allow Takara to use patents on iPS cell production globally for research purposes. iPS Academia Japan licenses patents on the iPS cell production technology invented by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of National University Co. Kyoto University. Takara Bio will license these patents on iPS cell production from iPS Academia Japan in its research activities around the world, and manufacture, sell and conduct commissioned research on research reagents used for iPS cell production. Takara Bio had earlier announced in March of this year that it was introducing “Human iPS Cell Generation™ Vector Set,” a research reagent useful in an efficient production of human iPS cells and that it was starting a service to produce retrovirus vector using this reagent. Takara has also found that human iPS cells can be produced very efficiently using RetroNectin®, a genetically modified protein developed by Takara. The company will support iPS cell research by offering RetroNectin® and other products and technologies useful in the production of iPS cells.

Source: Takara Bio Inc.
http://www.takara-bio.co.jp/news/2009/04/08.htm (Japanese Site)

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