Eisai and Sanko Junyaku to Launch Cobas h 232 Series, a Point-of-Care Testing System for Use in the Early Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Emergencies

Eisai Co., Ltd.
Sanko Junyaku Co., Ltd.

Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) and its diagnostics subsidiary Sanko Junyaku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Keisuke Watanabe, “Sanko Junyaku”) announced today that the two companies will launch the Cobas h 232 Series (“the Series”), a medical device series manufactured and marketed by Roche Diagnostics K.K. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Ayumu Ogawa, “Roche”), on April 5. Eisai will serve as co-promotion partner in the marketing of the Series.

Marketed by Roche since July 2007, the Series is a Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) system that enables rapid determination of five kinds of cardiac blood markers associated with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary thromboembolism and other cardiovascular conditions. Sanko Junyaku will begin marketing the Series based on a licensing agreement it concluded with Roche on March 1, 2011.

Cardiovascular emergency patients usually undergo a range of screening tests such as electrocardiogram (ECG) testing, diagnostic imaging and blood tests. The use of the Series to conduct blood tests aids in the early diagnosis of cardiovascular emergencies and allows physician’s to assess a patient's condition. The main unit is portable and compact which allows measurements to be taken in a variety of settings such as the physician's office, hospital outpatient clinics or hospital wards as well as in emergency situations.

With a view to further fulfilling its corporate mission of human health care (hhc), the Eisai Group established a new Eisai Japan organizational structure in June 2010 to formulate and implement comprehensive strategies across its four Japan business segments comprising prescription pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products, diagnostics, and generics. Furthermore, Eisai currently markets a number of cardiovascular products such as the thrombolytic agent Cleactor®, a treatment for acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary thromboembolism, Coretec®, a treatment for acute heart failure, and the Nitorol® Series, for treatment of acute heart failure and ischemic heart disease. By providing a comprehensive range of information and products related to all aspects of cardiovascular care, from screening through treatment, Eisai and Sanko Junyaku seek to make further contributions to increasing the benefits provided to patients.

*Sanko Junyaku Co., Ltd. will change its corporate name to Eidia Co., Ltd., effective April 1.

[ Please refer to the following notes for a product outline, product features, and product image ]

1. POCT (Point-of Care Testing)
Point-of Care Testing is defined as medical testing that is able to be performed rapidly and easily anywhere including at a patient’s bedside, at the physician’s office, or in emergency situations. This kind of testing allows for on-the-spot determination of results.

2. Troponin T
Troponin T is one of a number of proteins that make the heart and other muscles. Elevated concentrations of Troponin T tend to be present following damage to the myocardium. Troponin T is useful in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and is a marker that has a high specificity for myocardial damage.

3. D-Dimer
D-Dimer is a substance that is produced during the breakdown of blood clots. Whereas elevated concentrations of D-Dimer tend to be present following the formation of a blood clot somewhere in the body, normal levels of D-Dimer are an indication that blood clot formation may be ruled out. D-Dimer is also reported to be useful in exclusion diagnosis as clinical symptoms in patients with pulmonary thromboembolisms are the same as those that appear in patients with cardiovascular diseases. It is also known as D-DDimer.

4. NT-proBNP (N-Terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide)
NT-proBNP is a substance that is produced by myocardial cells and released into the blood in response to excessive strain on the heart muscle. This marker is used to rule out heart failure and in the assessment of a patient’s condition.

5. Myoglobin
Myoglobin is a protein found in the heart and other muscles. Elevated concentrations of myoglobin tend to be present when damage is sustained by the heart muscle. Myoglobin is useful in the early diagnosis of myocardial infraction.

6. CK-MB (MB Creatine Kinase Isoenzyme)
CK-MB is an enzyme found in large quantities in the heart muscle. Elevated CK-MB levels tend to be present when damage is sustained by the heart muscle. CK-MB is useful in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and assessment of a patient’s condition.