Press Release
April 26, 2024

Mediford Corporation and C2N Diagnostics Announce Agreement to Collaborate
on Blood Testing for Alzheimer's Disease Research in Japan
Mediford Corporation (headquarters: Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, President: Kei Shimizu), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo, Japan), and C2N Diagnostics, LLC (headquarters: St. Louis, MO, USA, President& CEO: Joel Braunstein, hereafter C2N) announce that they have signed thepartnership agreement for Mediford Corporation to support and offer C2N'sPrecivityTM blood testing services and products for the research market in Japan.
Specifically, Mediford Corporation serves as the contact point and provides
services such as transporting specimens and reporting the testing results. Theagreement will seek to enhance access to C2N 's PrecivityTM blood testing
technology for innovative clinical research activities in Japan in the field of
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Both companies will seek
to contribute to improving the quality and speed of clinical testing for researchersand pharmaceutical companies in Japan.
Currently, spinal fluid sampling and amyloid PET scans are often used to assist inthe diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The C2N portfolio of PrecivityTM blood tests
aims to markedly simplify the diagnostic evaluation process and burden forpatients by using blood sampling to precisely measure biomarkers that are
believed to play an integral role in Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and progression.
The business known today as Mediford Corporation has been providing services toJapanese and international pharmaceutical companies and various research
institutions in the non-clinical and clinical phases of drug research anddevelopment for more than 30 years. In the clinical development stage of newdrugs, the company supports research with advanced special analyticaltechniques for drug analysis and biomarker measurement as well as central
laboratory services that enable highly reliable analysis.
C2N offers proprietary measurement technology and extensive analytical data in
the field of central nervous system diseases. In particular, C2N's panel of PrecivityTM
blood tests is a platform technology that uses high-resolution mass spectrometry
to enable precise measurements of multiple biomarkers to evaluate amyloidplaques and neurofibrillary “tau” tangles (NFTs) brain lesions characteristic ofAlzheimer's disease. The company’s biomarker measurement services andproducts are used to support clinical decision-making, maximize the quality andefficiency of novel treatment development for neurodegenerative diseases, help
medical researchers understand disease mechanisms, and identify therapeutictargets.
www.mediford.com

As the population of Japan ages, the number of people at high risk for developingor living with dementia is significantly increasing. More than half of people withsymptoms of dementia are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease. It is expectedthat 6.75 million people within Japan*1 aged 65 or older, or about one in five, will
have dementia by 2025. By leveraging advanced analytical technologies for avariety of treatment methods and applying its experience of supporting clinicalresearch nationwide, Mediford Corporation will make C2N's PrecivityTM blood test
technology available to support research on Alzheimer’s and related dementia
prevention strategies, the early detection of disease, the onset and progression ofthe disease, and the effectiveness of treatment. Mediford Corporation aims toaccelerate research in this area through close collaboration with C2N and byadvancing new knowledge and a deeper understanding of the disease. Theseactivities will enable earlier diagnosis and providing higher quality medical care to
those affected by dementia.
Mediford Corporation President Mr. Kei Shimizu said, “Mediford Corporation has
been developing biomarkers for dementia through collaborative research in Japanand expects that C2N's PrecivityTM blood test technology will be one of the uniquetools that will greatly benefit dementia-related research and development inJapan. C2N's technology has received worldwide acclaim for its high diagnostic
accuracy and ability to assist in treatment decisions. We are proud to collaborate
to make this technology more available so it can improve patients' lives.”
C2N President & CEO Dr. Joel Braunstein said, “There are many Alzheimer’s diseaseresearch activities in Japan, with the country’s distinguished clinicians, scientists,
and innovative drug developers contributing to many important discoveries in thefield. Mediford Corporation is known for excellence in providing clinical and nonclinical analysis that supports each stage of drug research and development,
including advanced treatment options. This new collaboration is part of ourcommitment to provide global access to high quality diagnostic tools that will
enable clinical trial researchers and drug developers to better evaluate the newest
solutions and products targeting Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”*1 "Study on future projections of the elderly population with dementia in Japan" (Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare, 2014) (Available only in Japanese)
https://mhlw-grants.niph.go.jp/system/files/2014/141031/201405037A/201405037A0001.pdf

■ About Mediford Corporation
Mediford Corporation is a Japanese subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523). It started
drug development support services as the basis business in November 2023 as a member of PHC
Group. Mediford Corporation provides comprehensive services for drug development from anexploratory phase of R&D to a clinical development phase. Mediford Corporation strives toenhance its services for pharmaceutical companies and analytical laboratories globally throughanalytical technologies required in both non-clinical and clinical studies to realize emerging
varieties of treatment modality, through collaboration with pharmaceutical/biotech companies
and academia in advanced scientific fields.
URL: www.mediford.com■ About C2N Diagnostics, LLC
C₂N is a specialty diagnostics company with a vision to bring Clarity Through Innovation®. C₂Nstrives to provide exceptional laboratory services and products in the field of brain health. C₂N’s
high-resolution mass spectrometry-based biomarker services and products are used for: clinicaldecision-making to improve patient care, including diagnosis and treatment monitoring;
maximizing the quality and efficiency of clinical trials that test novel treatments forneurodegeneration; and providing innovative tools to help healthcare researchers better
understand novel mechanisms of disease, identify new treatment targets, and conduct important
epidemiologic studies to improve global public health. C₂N assays have been used in over 150
Alzheimer’s disease and other research studies throughout the U.S. and the world. This includes
landmark treatment and prevention trials involving disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that arechanging the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease. C₂N has ongoing collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical and biotech companies, leading academic institutions, National Instituteon Aging, Alzheimer’s Association, and other non-profits and consortiums. Over 15,000 Precivity™related biomarker measures have been reported through peer-reviewed publications, with many
more manuscripts currently under review.
The company acknowledges generous support from National Institute on Aging, GHR Foundation,Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, BrightFocus Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association.
URL: www.C2N.com■ About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)
PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission ofcontributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact andimprove the lives of people. Its subsidiaries include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes CareHoldings AG, Epredia Holdings Ltd., LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex Corporation, and Mediford
Corporation. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions acrossdiabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. The consolidated net
sales in FY2022 were JPY 356.4 billion with global distribution of products and services in morethan 125 countries and regions. PHC Group is a collective term referring to PHC Holdings
Corporation and its subsidiaries.
URL: www.phchd.com

■ For enquiries:[For product and service enquiries]
General Affairs and Human Resource Department
Mediford Corporation
Phone: +81-3-6905-5860
E-mail: medf-dds-gas@gg.mediford.com[For IR and media enquiries]
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Department
PHC Holdings Corporation
Phone: +81-3-6778-5311
E-mail: phc-pr@gg.phchd.com