Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Hisashi Ietsugu) and Katakura Industries Co., Ltd. (HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President: Kenzo Iwamoto) announced today the joint development of a technique which uses silkworms to mass produce a protein used as a primary raw material for coagulation testing. Late this March, Sysmex will launch Thrombocheck TTO Recombinant, an in vitro diagnostic reagent created from this material.
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A leading player in the clinical testing market, Sysmex makes constant efforts to ensure a stable supply of related products. However, there remains the innate possibility that procurement of materials used in some reagents which are derived from animals (mammals) will be negatively affected by the prevalence of epizootic diseases. In order to further stabilize reagent supply, we are working on the development of reagents free of animal sources.
Thrombocheck TTO Recombinant is a brand new reagent from Sysmex used for pharmacometrics and monitoring of its side effect of oral anticoagulants, which are used to prevent several kinds of thrombosis including cerebral infarction and pulmonary infarction.
In order to address the bottleneck in reagent production, we focused our attention on silkworms, which are known to produce proteins both quickly and efficiently. By combining our proprietary gene recombinant technology with Katakura Industries' silkworm-based protein mass production technology, it has become possible to produce proteins for reagents in an efficient and stable manner.
This then allows us to switch the materials for Thrombocheck TTO Recombinant from animal sources to those mass produced by silkworms, and to then supply reagents with greater stability. In addition, the time required for materials procurement has been reduced by one thirds, from about one month to approximately ten days.
Going forward, we will apply this material mass production technology to the switchover from animal sources, while also promoting the spread of Thrombocheck TTO Recombinant. Sysmex will remain committed to the stable supply of our reagent lines.
[About the product]
| Product name: Thrombocheck TTO Recombinant |
| Uses: |
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1. |
Activity measurement of coagulation factors combined in the blood and the plasma* |
2. |
Pharmacometrics during use of oral anticoagulant (warfarin potassium drugs), vitamin-k absence as assistant diagnostic |
| Marketed in: Japan |
| Content: 3mL x 10/package (GRT-200A), 10mL x 10/package (GRT-210A) |
| Released: Late March, 2009 |
*Measures global blood coagulation capability of coagulation factors combined (FII, FVII, and FX)
[About Katakura Industries Co., Ltd.]
Founded in 1873 as a raw silk manufacturer, Katakura Industries is proactively engaged in the development of new industries in recent years through the integration of its time-honored silkworm technologies and state-of-the-art biotechnology, while expanding its business in such areas as textiles, mechatronics, and services. For details, please visit their website (http://www.katakura.co.jp).
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