|
Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Hisashi Ietsugu; hereinafter referred to as "Sysmex”) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with SEGAMI MEDICS CO., LTD. (HQ: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Osamu Segami; hereinafter referred to as “Segami”), a subsidiary of cocokara fine HOLDINGS Inc. (HQ: Ota-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Tsukamoto; hereinafter referred to as “Cocokara Fine”), to begin collaboration on a new self-medication support service to be provided by Segami.
1. Reason for Collaboration
Sysmex provide hospitals and commercial laboratories in more than 150 countries with instruments, reagents, laboratory information system products, and after-sales support for hematology and urinalysis testing conducted in hospitals and medical examination settings. It has also focused on the fields of life science and healthcare, making contributions to disease prevention and early detection of cancer by applying the technologies it has developed in the diagnostics field, its major business domain. In Japan, it has promoted self-medication support survices based on this expertise.
Cocokara Fine is operating a total of 652 drug stores and dispensing pharmacies (as of the end of July) in areas that include Kanto, Koshinetsu, Tokai, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa. Under the corporate philosophy of "Contributions to local communities through the pursuit of people's mental and physical health," it seeks to differentiate itself from its competitors by enhancing service quality based on its expertise-oriented approach. As part of its activities related to medical examinations and health screening, Segami introduced PET/CT testing to its general customers in October 2007. With this as the start, the operation has today expanded to about 800 locations including chains of drug stores under the Cocokara Fine Group (Segami and Seijo Corporation) as well as under its affiliated companies.
Utilizing drug stores as the base, Sysmex and Segami aim to create a new healthcare business through the combination of Sysmex's testing technologies and related operational know-how and Segami's highly specilalized counseling capability and wide network of stores. They also plan to assist people in a wider range of areas to maintain their health, considering expansion of their services into the stores under the Cocokara Fine Group.
2. Details of Collaboration
Sysmex has developed a service system which provides customers with information on their health condition based on responses to a questionnaire on lifestyles and nutrient balances as well as measurements of parameters including blood pressure, pulse wave, body fat, and estimated hemoglobin concentration. This self-medication support system will be improved in line with Segami's needs and introduced into its drug stores. This will allow the two companies to provide a new healthcare service while taking the fullest advantage of the couseling services already available at those stores.
3. Company Profiles
 |
|
（1）Name |
Sysmex Corporation |
SEGAMI MEDICS CO., LTD. |
|
（2）Location |
1-5-1, Wakinohama-kaigandori, Chuo-ku, Kobe |
2-7-30, Minami-senba, Chuo-ku, Osaka |
|
（3）Title and Name of the Representative |
President and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu |
President, Representative Director: Osamu Segami |
|
（4）Businesses |
Development, production and sales of clinical testing instruments, reagents and related software |
Operation of a drug store chain and dispensing pharmacies
Care support businesses |
|
（5）Paid-in Capital |
¥8,685 million |
¥1,587 million |
|
（6）Established |
February 20, 1968 |
(Originally founded on) February 26, 1937 |
|
（7）Capital, personnel, and business relationships |
Nothing of note at present | |
4. Schedule
August 10, 2009: full-scale discussions on the initiation of the self-medication support service
Around September 2009: pilot stores from the Segami chain to be selected
5. Outlook for Future Development
Information will be provided as necessary when specific measures are agreed upon. | 
