Corporate
News release
TopTokyo ― Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543 Section 1) today announced that it has entered into an agreement regarding exclusive acquisition right for the treatment of coronary artery disease with Arterial Remodeling Technologies S.A. (hereinafter "ART"), a French company developing bioresorbable scaffold technology. The companies will also enter into joint development of drug-eluting bioresorbable scaffold, with Terumo making gradual R&D investment into ART going forward. The impact by such agreements on the company's performance of this fiscal year will be limited.
1. Bioresorbable Scaffold
A stent is an implant device used in the treatment of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and other coronary events caused by blood vessels around the heart that are stenosed or blocked. In recent years, drug-eluting stents are widely used with the expectation that they will reduce tissue proliferation after implantation, which may cause restenosis (narrowing of the treated part of the vessel), by the stent gradually releasing its drug into surrounding tissues.
Bioresorbable scaffold, which biodegrades and is resorbed inside the body, has garnered attention as the next generation of stent technology. Because it does not remain in the body as metal stent does, bioresorbable scaffold is expected to reduce thrombosis and the duration of antiplatelet therapy. Over 5 million stents are in annual use worldwide; according to a presentation of major academic conference, it is expected that in 2020 there will be 6.5 million in use, of which over half will be bioresorbable scaffold.
2. Objectives of obtaining exclusive acquisition right
In the coronary intervention field, Terumo currently sells the drug-eluting stent "Nobori™" in countries including Europe and Japan, and plans to launch its next-generation "Ultimaster™," which has received the CE mark, in June 2014. By also selling bioresorbable scaffold, Terumo plans to achieve growth in both the bioresorbable and metal drug-eluting stent/scaffold fields.
Terumo aims to reach 50 billion yen at the peak of overall stent sales including both bioresorbable and metal drug-eluting stent/scaffold.
3. Overview of ART
| Name | Arterial Remodeling Technologies S.A. (ART) |
| Head Office | 3, rue de Verdun - Bât.G |
| 78590 Noisy le Roi | |
| France | |
| Representative | Machiel van der Leest |
| Establishment | 2002 |
| No. of Employee | 9 |
| Main Activities | The development of bioresorbable scaffold |
About Terumo
Terumo (TSE: 4543) is a global leader in medical technology and has been committed to “Contributing to Society through Healthcare” for 100 years. Based in Tokyo and operating globally, Terumo employs more than 30,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and has been supporting healthcare ever since. Now, its extensive business portfolio ranges from vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, to medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments. Terumo will further strive to be of value to patients, medical professionals, and society at large.