The IVD Division contributes to the advancement
of medical care by providing high-precision
medical equipment and diagnostic reagents.
Hiroyuki Tokunaga
Director and Member of Board,
Director of In Vitro Diagnostics Division,
PHC Corporation
Message
The IVD Division of PHC Corporation developed Japan’s first clinical diagnostic reagents in 1962 and the industry’s first electrochemical blood glucose monitoring (BGM) system in 1991.
Currently, we offer various products such as blood glucose monitoring systems, POCT devices, biochemical analyzers, diagnostic reagents, and motorized drug injection devices.
Based on the mission of PHC Group, we have defined the mission of our division as “We contribute to the advancement of medical care as one of the leading global healthcare companies by providing high-precision, highly reliable, high-value-added medical equipment, and diagnostic reagents.”
We will accelerate further growth of our IVD business centered on point-of-care testing (POCT), which is defined as one of the Growth Areas in PHC Group’s Mid-Term Plan, “Value Creation Plan FY2022-2025.”
Overview
The IVD Division was formerly the healthcare business of Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics, established in 1969.
Since launching the industry’s first electrochemical blood glucose monitoring (BGM) system in 1991, we have developed and manufactured a variety of healthcare products, including motorized drug injection devices and POCT (point-of-care testing) devices. Leveraging our strength in manufacturing excellence, we provide a variety of medical devices that support the early detection and effective treatment of disease.
Through a business restructuring within PHC Group, the IVD Division integrated the Diagnostic Reagents and Instrument Division of LSI Medience Corporation on November 1, 2023.
We will continue to maximize our manufacturing capabilities to promote further improvement of the quality and cost of our products while addressing the unmet needs of our customers in the development of diagnostic equipment and reagents.
Strengths
- Product design that reflects market needs
After thoroughly researching user pain points and requests, we carefully consider how to improve products and reflect the results in the product design. Even with OEM products, we provide unique value, such as ease of use and precision of diagnosis and treatment.
- Efficient product development process
We seek to improve the efficiency of the product development process by adopting two concepts: concurrent engineering, in which multiple processes proceed simultaneously, and front-loading, in which items and processes normally evaluated at a later stage are brought forward as far as possible, so that any issues can be identified and addressed as early as possible.
- Our Japanese heritage of manufacturing excellence
Our manufacturing expertise and culture of continuous improvements, which have continued since the days of Matsushita Kotobuki Electronics, are the foundation of our high-quality, high-precision manufacturing technology. For instance, the disk rotation technology we developed when the company manufactured computer hard disks is now applied to centrifugation technology for specimens in our healthcare products.
FY2022 Snapshot
* Combined revenues of PHC IVD’s business and LSI Medience's diagnostic reagents and instruments business.
Main Customers
- Hospitals/clinics
- Medical device manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical companies
Main Products/Services
We develop diabetes care products centered on blood glucose monitoring systems, continuous glucose monitoring systems, equipment used for real-time testing in medical settings, and motorized drug injection devices.
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Blood Glucose Monitoring (BGM) Systems
Supplied to: ARKRAY Co., Ltd.
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POC biochemical analyzer
(measures HbA1c, lipids and CRP)
Supplied to: Roche Diagnostics
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Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems for Hospitals/Clinics
Supplied to: SANWA KAGAKU KENKYUSHO CO., LTD.
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Motorized Drug Injection Devices
Supplied to: JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
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Blood Sampling Device/Dedicated Blood Sampling Needle
Supplied to: Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
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Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measuring Devices*
Supplied to: NIOX Group PLC
- *“Exhaled nitric oxide measuring device” has been approved by the U.S. FDA
IVD Division
The IVD Division is focusing on the POCT market. POCT is expected to grow in the mid- to high-single digit range due to factors such as the increasing demand for comprehensive medical care (or primary care), which provides consultation services for all kinds of medical needs, and demand for faster testing and diagnosis. By region, high growth rates are expected particularly in the United States and other markets outside Japan.
Currently, our primary focus is on motorized drug delivery devices, mobile immunoanalyzers, and diagnostic reagents.
Motorized drug injection devices are designed to automatically administer the correct amount of drug, allow users to check the administration history, and support treatment at home. Since they are electronically operated, they can be used with high-viscosity formulations and have a wider range of applications than spring-type products.
The immunoanalyzer uses an all-in-one reagent cartridge, can examine multiple items in parallel, and has features such as a compact immunochemiluminescence system, contributing to rapid sample analyses in hospitals and clinics.
By combining the technology we have cultivated to date with the technologies of PHC and LSI Medience, the IVD Division strives to develop next-generation cardiac biomarker measurement devices as well as devices and reagents that meet unmet needs, and seeks to achieve significant growth in this field.