News Release
Partnership Launches Research Projectto Deliver Innovative Personalized Cancer Therapies
Kyoto, Japan – December 6, 2021 – Kyoto University, SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd., AFI Corporation and Kyo
Diagnostics K.K.

have officially launched a joint research project targeting the development of innovative

personalized cancer therapies. The project is designed to create high-precision in vitro technologies that utilize
patient cells to predict the impact of different treatments. It has been established as a collaborative researchcourse* under the Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Program operated by Kyoto University.
Cancer treatment generally involves the use of surgical, radiation and drug therapies, which are administered inaccordance with relevant guidelines based on scientific evidence. While pharmaceutical options, in particular,
are increasing every year as new medicines become available, the nature of each patient’s cancer can varysignificantly. This currently makes it difficult to predict the likely effects of drugs before beginningadministration.
For this reason, unless a therapeutic effect is observed after starting treatment, patients may have little choice
but to switch to another medication, placing both a heavy physical and financial burden on them. The reality ofthis situation has become a key factor driving the development of personalized medicine, which is expected toprovide more effective therapies that precisely match the characteristics of individual diseases.
Recognizing these trends, Kyoto University, SCREEN, AFI and KyoDiagnostics have established a dedicatedlaboratory within Kyoto University’s Medical Innovation Center. The facility will enable the partners to perform
joint research leading to the development of new personalized cancer therapies that use the patient’s own cells
to accurately predict the effects of different treatments in vitro.
The project will utilize specific knowhow possessed by each partner, namely Kyoto University’s advanced
medical research knowledge, SCREEN’s diverse imaging technologies, AFI’s unique cell sorting and separating
technologies employing microfluidic channels and electrode arrays and KyoDiagnostics’ unique spheroid
culturing technologies, which allow cells collected from patients to be grown under conditions similar to thosewithin the human body. The partners will work together to stage a series of demonstration experiments, with thegoal of delivering a system able to predict the therapeutic effects of different cancer treatments in approximately
two years.
With this joint research project, Kyoto University, SCREEN, AFI and KyoDiagnostics hope to accelerate theimplementation of innovative personalized therapies for cancer. Progress in this area is also expected to promoteadvances in related treatment fields, helping to address a variety of medical issues currently facing society.
1 / 3News Release* Project-type joint research that is conducted using the courses, organizational structures and educational/researchfacilities of a graduate school, based on collaborations between industry, government and academia. The expenditure
required for operation is usually covered by funds provided by private institutions for joint research.

System for Predicting Effects of Cancer Therapies (Proposed)

Comments by Project Partners■ Kazutaka Obama, Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University
Our division has adopted the motto “Everything is for our patients’ happiness.” We always try to keep this inmind and maintain a patient-centered approach while providing medical care and engaging in research activities.
In this new industry-academia initiative with SCREEN, AFI and KyoDiagnostics, our division is looking forward
to expanding the research we have completed in collaboration with “Personalized Therapeutics for Colon Cancer
Patients,” a research project that has already seen the development of a 3D culturing method for cells derived
from colorectal cancer patients. The ability to predict the impact of cancer therapies on each individual willcertainly help us to achieve our goal of bringing happiness to our patients.

2 / 3News Release■ Masaki Yoshioka, Senior Corporate Officer in charge of technology development, SCREEN Holdings Co.,Ltd.
SCREEN is currently working to expand our business into the life sciences field, a new area for us, by applying
the technologies we have successfully developed over many years in the production of electronic devices. Ourcompany has gained particular expertise with imaging technologies, which are also expected to provide a rangeof environmental benefits. It is my hope that joint research like this new project, conducted through industryacademia collaboration, and our continuing business expansion will make a positive contribution to thedevelopment of cancer therapies and the wider medical field.
■ Takaharu Enjoji, President of AFI Corporation
AFI has succeeded in bringing our highly innovative AMATAR® filtering technology to market as part ofCROSSORTER®, an advanced system enabling label-free sorting and analysis of cells. Using this technology,
we are continuing to research methods for damage-less separation of cancer cells. We hope these findings will
help us make a meaningful contribution to the goal of this new joint research project, specifically thedevelopment of personalized cancer therapies.
AMATAR, CROSSORTER are registered trademarks of AFI Corporation.

■ Kazuhide Konishi, Representative Director of Kyo Diagnostics K.K.
This new collaborative research course is an innovative, first of its kind initiative that will take on the challenge
of delivering a next-generation medical system for personalized cancer therapies – something that has yet to beachieved anywhere in the world. Although KyoDiagnostics possesses the technologies required to selectivelyand efficiently culture cancer spheroid cells, we feel it would be difficult for a venture company such as ours todeliver personalized cancer therapies while working alone. By joining this research course, we hope to furtheraccelerate our collaborative efforts with a variety of university, research and corporate organizations, with thegoal of creating truly personalized treatments as quickly as possible.
Contacts:
Kyoto University
E-mail: kobama@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
E-mail: nr-info@screen.co.jp

AFI Corporation
E-mail: afi_info@afi.co.jp

Kyo Diagnostics K.K.
E-mail: info@kyo-diagnostics.jp

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