Hitachi High-Technologies Starts Capital and Business Alliance in the Genetic Testing Business

– Contributing to people’s health by promoting the spread of genetic testing equipment in the healthcare field –

Tokyo, Japan, May 15, 2017, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (TSE: 8036, Hitachi High-Tech) agreed to start a capital and business alliance (hereinafter, “the Alliance”) with Precision System Science Co., Ltd. (PSS) relating to the genetic testing business using the PCR*¹ method. Under the Alliance, Hitachi High-Tech will receive a private placement of new shares by PSS.

A wide range of technologies, including the PCR method, are applied to genetic testing and already in practical use. In addition to the role of the PCR method in the diagnosis of infectious disease, the method has been increasingly used for molecular targeted therapy*² for cancer. The PCR method is expected to play a further role in early detection of disease and personalized therapies, as well as the monitoring of treatment progress, as the demand for genetic testing in the healthcare field continues to expand.

In the Alliance, Hitachi High-Tech will use its sales network to sell not only PSS’s conventional products, but also fully automated compact genetic testing system and reagents which are under development. Furthermore, Hitachi High-Tech will combine its marketing, development and technological capabilities nurtured in the life science and in vitro diagnostic business with PSS’s gene extraction technologies in a bid to develop next-generation fully automated genetic testing system and to expand the market through equipment and reagent sales. By building a long-term cooperative relationship as strategic partners in the genetic testing business, the two companies will contribute to maintaining and improving people’s health.

Hitachi High-Tech is promoting a mid-term management strategy for realizing accelerated growth towards 2020 under its corporate vision to “consistently aim to be Global Top in high-tech solutions.” As part of the mid-term management strategy, Hitachi High-Tech is concentrating investment on its priority fields of biotechnology and healthcare. In the Biotechnology and Medical Products Business, with the Company’s vision, “aim to be a global player in all in vitro diagnosis markets”, Hitachi High-Tech aims to expand its biotechnology and medical products business even further.

*1

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method: A method of amplifying minute amounts of DNA fragments obtained from cells.

*2

Molecular targeted therapy: A therapeutic method of treatment by targeting a specific molecule to suppress its function.