Society
Resolution of Medical Issues through Innovation
Initiatives for Dementia
There are currently over 55 million people worldwide who live with dementia, and the number of dementia patients is expected to reach 140 million by 2050 as life expectancy increases globally.*
Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60% to 70% of all dementia cases, is thought to be triggered by an accumulation of plaque consisting of a protein called amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain, causing cognitive impairment. Therefore, early diagnosis and interventions are considered to enhance effectiveness of treatment targeting Aβ. However, at present, imaging test of the brain (PET imaging) and cerebrospinal fluid testing to identify the accumulation of Aβ are only available at a limited number of institutions, and their high costs and invasiveness impose a burden on patients.
Sysmex has been engaged in the development of technology to identify the accumulation of Aβ in the brain more easily and rapidly in order to help resolve issues in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. In February 2016, Sysmex and Eisai Co., Ltd. entered into a comprehensive, non-exclusive collaboration agreement for the creation of new diagnostic reagents in the field of dementia. By utilizing each other’s technologies and knowledge, Sysmex has been engaged in the development of next-generation diagnostic reagents that will enable the early diagnosis of dementia, the selection of treatment methods, and the monitoring of the resulting effects.
In June 2023, Sysmex launched an assay kit in Japan that aids determination of Aβ accumulation in the brain by measuring Aβ levels in the blood using our automated immunoassay system. This enables easy and quick testing and reduces physical, emotional, and financial burdens on patients with a suspected Aβ accumulation in the brain. It is expected to contribute to early diagnosis and early determination of optimal treatment for patients.
As a further initiative, the development of a biomarker panel is underway to indicate pathological changes at each stage of Alzheimer's disease, from pre-onset to cognitive dysfunction.
Going forward, we will continue to create new diagnostic technologies for the prevention and treatment of dementia, aiming to contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) of patients and their families.
- Source: Global status report on the public health response to dementia. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021.
The Quest for a More Accessible Dementia Diagnosis
Member of the Managing Board and
Senior Executive Officer Managing Director, CTO,
Tomokazu Yoshida
"It is a huge step for Sysmex’s product to be approved first in Japan as a diagnostic that can measure Aβ accumulation in the brain by using blood," says Yoshida, looking back on the road to regulatory approval in Japan. "This really embodies how testing leads to appropriate treatment and increases the value of the treatment."
"I am hoping that the blood Aβ test reagent will be a model case for future collaborations with a range of partners to generate new patterns of healthcare from the standpoint of testing,"
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The Quest for a More Accessible Dementia Diagnosis
Contribution to Healthcare through Surgical Support Robots
In recent years, there have been demands for solutions to social issues such as reducing physical burdens on patients, improving their QOL, the early detection of lesions, providing environments in which healthcare professionals can concentrate on treatment with a sense of security, and equalizing the provision of medical care, such as by rectifying medical disparities among regions. Surgical support robots are utilized in laparoscopic surgery, which aims to reduce the physical burden on patients. These robots support healthcare professionals in performing more precise operations. The market size1 of the surgical support robot industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%, reaching approximately 2 trillion yen on a global basis by 2030.
Sysmex began the full-scale introduction of the surgical support robot2 to the Japanese market in 2021. Urological, gastroenterological, gynecological, and respiratory surgical fields utilizing the robot are now covered by insurance in Japan, and the cumulative number of cases has reached 4,225 (As of March 31, 2024). These surgical support robots, equipped with operation arms that move smoothly like a human arm, and the capacity to project high-definition images that vividly display even the smallest details with a full high-definition 3D system, were developed with the aim of contributing to the evolution of medicine. In the future, AI will learn surgeons’ advanced skills and achieve a feedback functionality for surgical procedures, assisting functionality with intraoperative navigation, remote guidance, and remote training. These prospective advancements in AI capabilities are expected to contribute to the improvement of skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals.
In 2023, a demonstration of remote surgery using the surgical robot system was successfully conducted between Singapore and Aichi, which are approximately 5,000 km apart. This was Japan’s first remote surgery demonstration conducted between Singapore and Japan.
Sysmex will continue to proceed with its surgical intelligence initiatives and promote digital transformation (DX) to ensure a successful healthcare journey for each patient, including pre-surgery testing and treatment during and after surgery, by combining skills and knowledge developed through testing and diagnostics as well as surgical support robots.
- 1 The market size is indicated on a customer-purchase-price basis. Source: TechSci Research. The figure for 2030 is Medicaroid’s projection.
- 2 The surgical support robotic system was developed by Medicaroid Corporation, a joint venture between Sysmex Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Award Links
- Notice of Receiving the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award at the 6th Japan Medical Research and Development Awards (medicaroid.com, in Japanese)
- Notice of Receiving the “MM Research Institute Awards 2023” Grand Prize (medicaroid.com, in Japanese)
- Notice of Receiving the Selection Committee's Special Award at the 11th Technology Management & Innovation Awards (medicaroid.com, in Japanese)
- Notice of Receiving the Ninth Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Awards, Prime Minister's Award(medicaroid.com, in Japanese)
Stakeholder’s Voice
We hope to create a workflow that reduces the burdens on healthcare professionals while also providing higher-quality and more appropriate medical care to patients. We hope to help create a world in which all people involved in medical care can work with ease and patients feel less stressed about going to hospitals. This is an ambitious dream, and our mission to realize it acts as a driving force in our daily work.
Contribution to Countermeasures against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
If antimicrobials, which are used to treat infections, are inappropriately used, bacteria in the body may not be terminated sufficiently, and the surviving bacteria may become drug resistant. If drug-resistant bacteria proliferate, antimicrobials will become less effective, making it difficult to treat infections that would otherwise be mild and reversible. If countermeasures against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)1 are not taken, the number of annual deaths due to AMR is expected to reach 10 million by 2050.2 This is a high figure, estimated to surpass the number of deaths from cancer. For this reason, AMR is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various other organizations as a social challenge that must be addressed worldwide.
As a company involved in healthcare, Sysmex is working to establish new testing technologies and to develop products that can resolve this issue. In June 2023, we launched a testing system for rapid detection of antimicrobial susceptibility in Europe, which detects the presence or absence of bacteria and assesses the effectiveness of antimicrobials using urine samples from patients suspected of having urinary tract infections.3 Using a unique and proprietary microfluidic technology,4 the system delivers the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)5 in as little as 30 minutes from the start of measurement, a significant reduction compared to the several days required for conventional AST, thereby helping ensure that appropriate antimicrobials are prescribed at first visits to clinics and other primary care settings.
Eventually, in 2024, the system won the Longitude Prize on AMR, the UK's most prominent scientific prize. The award recognizes and supports the team of developers who have made the most significant contribution toward combating AMR through the development of an affordable, rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use POCT6 system that is necessary for appropriate antimicrobial prescribing in the medical field. Since the award's launch in November 2014, more than 250 development teams worldwide have submitted entries.
Sysmex will continuously commit itself to tackling the universal threat of AMR by developing and delivering innovative testing and diagnostic technologies.
- 1 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):This phenomenon occurs when living organisms develop resistance to a drug whose efficacy is decreased or neutralized as a result. Bacteria that have developed antimicrobial resistance are known as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
- 2 Source: “Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a Crisis for the Health and Wealth of Nations.” The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, Chaired by Jim O’ Neill.
- 3 Urinary tract infections (UTIs): UTIs are caused by bacteria that proliferate in the urinary tract, spanning from the kidneys to the urethral outlet, resulting in inflammation. These infections can lead to cystitis in the bladder and pyelonephritis in the kidneys. They are among the most commonly encountered bacterial infections in daily clinical practice, with approximately 60% of women experiencing this at least once in their lifetime.
*Source: American Urological Association Website “Urinary Tract Infections in Adults”.
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/u/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults (Referred on June 20, 2023) - 4 Microfluidic technology:
Sysmex Astrego's unique proprietary technology that involves creating microchannels at the micrometer or nanometer level. This allows individual bacteria from a fluid sample to be captured and cultured unidirectionally within these microchannels, thereby enabling rapid detection of antimicrobial susceptibility.
https://www.sysmex-astrego.se/technology.html - 5 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST):
This is a test to determine the efficacy of various antimicrobial drugs against pathogenic bacteria detected in a sample. - 6 Point-of-Care Testing (POCT):
A generic term for simple clinical testing methods that healthcare professionals perform in close proximity to patients, such as in medical and nursing care, and offer the advantages of reduced testing time and enhanced visibility to patients.
Stakeholder’s Voice
Mikael Olsson, CEO of Sysmex Astrego AB (on the right in the photo)
Umeno: Being able to conduct testing easily at any time and see the results quickly not only improves the efficiency of medical care and the patient’s QOL, but also results in a sense of ease for both healthcare professionals and patients.
Olsson: The product we have developed uses a basic platform for testing. By varying the application, we can develop products that can be used for a variety of diseases. Believing in our potential, we will continue working toward a world in which less people have a negative experience due to AMR.
Tackling the Universal Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with New Testing Technology