Discovering invisible diseases and creating the smiles of tomorrow
No matter how medical science advance, there are still some diseases that cannot be completely treated.
We believe that "every disease should be treatable."
With this in mind, Sekisui Medical has been working in a daily basis to increase the value of the "diagnostics" that is used in the preliminary stage of treatment, to maximize the efficiency of treatment, and to increase the possibility of overcoming the disease as much as possible.
In Japan, newborn screening tests are performed after the birth to determine whether the newborn has had a congenital disease or not. Currently,a newborn screening test examines 20 congenital diseases, allowing newborns who are found to have the disease to receive appropriate treatment. However, the current situation is that such rare diseases are still poorly treated.
We will provide a supportive service related to child growth through clinical diagnostics accumulated in our history. For this purpose, Sekisui Medical has developed research reagents for screening rare diseases in collaboration with the National Center for Child Health and Development. The reagents have begun to be distributed to research institutions, hospitals and communities as diagnostics for expanded newborn screening. With our diagnostics, we can achieve early detection and treatment of rare diseases, recovery of symptoms and prevention of serious illness, thereby saving the lives of patients who can be saved and improving their quality of life thereafter.
Expanded newborn screening and Sekisui Medical services
What is an expanded newborn screening test?
Recently, the development of new therapeutic agents has led to the initiation of expanded newborn screening tests for diseases for which the prognosis can be improved if they are detected before the onset and treated early.
Services provided by Sekisui Medical
We currently have two proposals: contracting tests of expanded newborn screening and marketing of reagents. In the contracting tests, we receive requests for the tests from laboratories and perform clinical tests using the clinical diagnostics in our company. In the reagent marketing service, we supply our proprietary products to clinical institutions.
| Marketing of reagents / Contract testing |
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|---|---|
| Contract testing |
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To detect diseases that are life-threatening if not detected early
Sekisui Medical has developed and marketed a diagnostic test kit, which simultaneously screens for two diseases: primary immunodeficiency and spinal muscular atrophy. The overall incidence is 1:10,000 live births for primary immunodeficiency and 1:20,000 live births for spinal muscular atrophy; it is considered important to perform screening tests in the neonatal period to confirm the presence of these diseases to maximize the effectiveness of treatment. It is no exaggeration to say, therefore, that this screening test will have a significant impact on the future lives of infants and young children.
To achieve faster, more accurate test results
Due to the nature of rare disease, the diagnostic tests and treatment may take longer than for other diseases. Thus, the test results should be shown as quickly and accurately as possible. We have developed a test method that allows testing directly from dried blood spot to successfully reduce the testing time by approximately half. At the same time, this process reduction can reduce the risk of errors and the cost of testing. We have been able to lower the bar in terms of test accuracy and cost and make this screening test available to more newborns.
Contributing to the health of all people and society through screening tests
"To provide intelligent solutions to enhance life with science and improve the health of all people" With this mission, Sekisui Medical will also contribute to the health of adults and the elderly through screening tests in this diagnostics segment. Moreover, we will offer diagnostics that uses technology to screen for a variety of diseases including dementia, as well as one that diagnoses the therapeutic efficiency on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Treatment begins with "Diagnostic Tests." Sekisui Medical will continue to strive to expand the diagnostics segment and improve its efficiency so that its products and services provide value to patients, their families and society as a whole.
Dr. Hiromi Nyuzuki
Making life the best for newborns and their families
Early detection and treatment of the rare diseases targeted by the xpanded newborne screening test are important and have great significance for newborns and their families. As a clinician, I have encountered newborns whose screening tests revealed severe immunodeficiency or lysosomal storage disease and found them to be thriving and healthy thereafter with the early intervention. So, I am acutely aware of the value and importance of these screening tests on a daily basis. I believe that the value of these tests is wide-ranging, as the results of tests are not limited to the newborn, but may also lead to health care for his/her family. But the further penetration of the screening tests into the families of newborns and into actual medical practice is a major challenge for the future. It is also true that there are disparities among regions and clinical institutions that perform these tests. Accordingly, I'd like to strongly accelerate our efforts with Sekisui Medical to promote understanding of the screening tests so that as many newborns as possible can receive them.