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Society▎ Resolution of Medical Issues through Innovation
Creating New Value for a Healthy Society

Initiatives for Dementia

There are currently over 55 million people worldwide who live with dementia, and the number of dementia patientsis expected to reach 130 million by 2050 as life expectancy increases globally.※ Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for

60% to 70% of all dementia cases, is thought to be triggered by an accumulation of plaque consisting of a protein calledamyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain, causing cognitive impairment. Therefore, early diagnosis and interventions are considered
to enhance effectiveness of treatment targeting Aβ. However, at present, imaging test of the brain (PET imaging) andcerebrospinal ﬂuid testing to identify the accumulation of Aβ are only available at a limited number of institutions, andtheir high costs and invasiveness impose a burden on patients.
Sysmex has been engaged in the development of technology to identify the accumulation of Aβ in the brain moreeasily and rapidly in order to help resolve issues in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. In February 2016, Sysmex and Eisai
Co., Ltd. entered into a comprehensive, non-exclusive collaboration agreement for the creation of new diagnostic

reagents in the ﬁeld of dementia. By utilizing each other’s technologies and knowledge, Sysmex has been engaged in

the development of next-generation diagnostic reagents that will enable the early diagnosis of dementia, the selectionof treatment methods, and the monitoring of the resulting effects.
In June 2023, Sysmex launched diagnostic reagents in Japan that aids determination of Aβ accumulation in the brain bymeasuring Aβ levels in the blood. These reagents will be used with our automated immunoassay systems based on thechemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) principle. This enables easy and quick testing and reduces physical,

Societyemotional, and ﬁnancial burdens on patients with a suspected Aβ accumulation in the brain. It is expected to contributeto early diagnosis and early determination of optimal treatment for patients.
Going forward, we will continue to create new diagnostic technologies for the prevention and treatment of dementia,
aiming to contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) of patients and their families.

Creating New Value for a Healthy Society

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Resolution of Medical Issues through Innovation

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Improvement in Accessibility to Healthcare―Approaches to Global Health and Universal Health Coverage―

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Providing Responsible Products, Services, and Solutions

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Pursuit of Quality and Trust

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Strengthening Supply Chain Management

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Creating an Attractive Workplace40

Development of Human Resources ―Employee Journey―

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Promotion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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Increasing Engagement

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Promotion of Health and Occupational Safety: Wellbeing

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Corporate Citizenship Activities
Corporate Citizenship Activities※ Source: Global Status Report on the Public Health Response to the Dementia Executive Summary (Sep. 2, 2021, World Health Organization)

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GovernanceContribution to Healthcare through Surgical Support Robots

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Performance Dataantimicrobials will become less effective, making it difﬁcult to treat infections that would otherwise be mild and reversible.

In recent years, there have been demands for solutions to social issues such as reducing physical burdens on patients,
improving their QOL, the early detection of lesions, providing environments in which healthcare professionals canconcentrate on treatment with a sense of security, and equalizing the provision of medical care, such as by rectifying
medical disparities among regions. Surgical support robots are utilized in laparoscopic surgery, which aims to reduce thephysical burden on patients. These robots support healthcare professionals in performing more precise operations. The
market size ※ of the surgical support robot industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
13%, reaching approximately 2 trillion yen on a global basis by 2030.
Sysmex began the full-scale introduction of surgical support robots to the Japanese market in 2020. Urological,
gastroenterological, and gynecological surgery utilizing these robots are now covered by insurance in Japan, and thecumulative number of such surgery cases had exceeded 1,800 as of the ﬁrst quarter of the ﬁscal year ended March
2024. These surgical support robots, equipped with operation arms that move smoothly like a human arm, and thecapacity to project high-deﬁnition images that vividly display even the smallest details with a full high-deﬁnition 3D

If countermeasures against AMR (antimicrobial resistance) are not taken, the number of annual deaths due to AMR is
expected to exceed 10 million by 2050. ※2 This is a high ﬁgure, estimated to surpass the number of deaths from cancer. For
this reason, AMR is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a variety of other groups as a social issue
that must be addressed worldwide.
As a company involved in healthcare, Sysmex is working to establish new testing technologies and to develop productsthat can resolve this issue. In June 2023, we launched a testing system for rapid detection of antimicrobial susceptibili ty
in Europe, which detects the presence or absence of bacteria and assesses the effectiveness of antimicrobials using
urine samples from patients suspected of having urinary tract infections. ※3 Using a unique and proprietary microﬂuidic
technology,※5 the system delivers the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)※4 in as little as 30 minutes
from the start of measurement, a signiﬁcant reduction compared to the several days required for conventional AST,
thereby helping ensure that appropriate antimicrobials are prescribed at ﬁrst visits to clinics, etc. in primary care.
Sysmex will continuously commit itself to tackling the universal threat of AMR by developing and delivering innovative

system, were developed with the aim of contributing to the evolution of medicine. In the future, AI will learn surgeons’testing and diagnostic technologies.

navigation, remote guidance, and remote training. These prospective advancements in AI capabilities are expected※2 Source: “Antimicrobial Resistance: Tackling a Crisis for the Health and Wealth of Nations.” The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, Chaired by Jim O’ Neill.
※3 Urinary tract infections (UTIs): UTIs are caused by bacteria that proliferate in the urinary tract, spanning from the kidneys to the urethral outlet,advanced skills and achieve a feedback functionality for surgical procedures, assisting functionality with intraoperative
to contribute to the improvement of skills and knowledge of healthcare professionals. In addition, Sysmex is currently
promoting efforts to add functionalities and to develop guidelines that meet the needs of worksites in collaboration

with multiple medical institutions, academic societies, telecommunications service companies, etc. to enable the earlyclinical implementation of telesurgery, in which a surgeon performs surgery at a distance from the patient.
Sysmex will continue to proceed with its surgical intelligence initiatives and promote digital transformation (DX) to ensure
a successful healthcare journey for each patient, including pre-surgery testing and testing and treatment during and after
surgery, by combining skills and knowledge developed through testing and diagnostics as well as surgical support robots.

※1 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): This phenomenon occurs when living organisms develop resistance to a drug whose efﬁcacy is decreased or

neutralized as a result. Bacteria that have developed antimicrobial resistance are known as antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

resulting in inﬂammation. These infections can lead to cystitis in the bladder and pyelonephritis in the kidneys. They are among the most commonly
encountered bacterial infections in daily clinical practice, with approximately 60% of women experiencing this at least once in their lifetime.
*Source: American Urological Association Website “Urinary Tract Infections in Adults”.
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/u/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults (Referred on June 20, 2023)※4 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST):
This is a test to determine the efﬁcacy of various antimicrobial drugs against pathogenic bacteria detected in a sample.
※5 Microﬂuidic technology:
Sysmex Astrego’s unique proprietary technology that involves creating microchannels at the micrometer or nanometer level. This allows
individual bacteria from a ﬂuid sample to be captured and cultured unidirectionally within these microchannels, thereby enabling rapid detectionof antimicrobial susceptibility.
https://www.sysmex-astrego.se/technology.html※ The market size is indicated on a customer-purchase-price basis. Source: TechSci Research. The ﬁgure for 2030 is Medicaroid’s projection.

Stakeholder’s Voice

Stakeholder’s Voice

Umeno: Being able to conduct testing easily at any time and see the results quickly not only improves the

efﬁciency of medical care and the patient’s QOL, but also results in a sense of ease for both healthcare

We hope to create a workﬂow that reduces theprofessionals and patients.

burdens on healthcare professionals while also

Olsson: The product we have developed uses a basic platform for testing. By varying the application, we canproviding higher-quality and more appropriate
medical care to patients. We hope to help create

develop products that can be used for a variety of diseases. Believing in our potential, we will continue

a world in which all people involved in medical

working toward a world in which less people have a negative experience due to AMR.

care can work with ease and patients feel lessstressed about going to hospitals. This is anambitious dream, and our mission to realize it
acts as a driving force in our daily work.

Yuuki Hata, Manager in the MR Business Division

Click here for details:▶ Contributing to DX in Surgery and Equalization of Medical Care in Order to Provide Greater

Peace of Mind and Safety for Healthcare Professionals, Patients, and Their Families

Tetsuji Umeno, Director in the HUP Business Division (one on the left in the photo)
Mikael Olsson, CEO of Sysmex Astrego AB (on the right in the photo)※1

Contribution to Countermeasures against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR )If antimicrobials, which are used to treat infections, are inappropriately used, bacteria in the body may not beterminated sufﬁciently, and the surviving bacteria may become drug resistant. If drug-resistant bacteria proliferate,

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Click here for details:▶ Tackling the Universal Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with New Testing Technology

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in Accessibility to Healthcare▎―Improvements▎ Approaches to Global Health and Universal Health Coverage ―Society

Today, many global health issues affect health worldwide and require international collaboration to be solved. Many of

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industry co-creation project in the Republic of Ghana at the 9th NIKKEI FT Communicable Disease Conference held in
November 2022.
※1 Time from the start of measurement to the determination of test results.
※2 Testing by the analyzer does not mean that malaria diagnosis will replace microscopic testing. Nor does it mean a diagnosis can be madebased on the outcome of analyzer testing alone. Diagnostic conﬁrmation is based on a doctor’s comprehensive judgment, which includes

other clinical information.

※3 Red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin volume (Hb), hematocrit value (Ht), mean corpuscular volume (MCV),

mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and platelet count (PLT).

these issues are threatening the health of people who cannot access proper medical care due to inadequate healthcare
environments and systems.
In the ﬁeld of global health, Sysmex works to solve issues in testing and diagnosis, the core of its business. As one of
our responsibilities as a global company, we will contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC)※ by promoting quality
testing in emerging and developing countries so that as many people as possible can receive appropriate medical
care.

Stakeholder’s Voice
Conventional malaria tests take time,
and their accuracy is low; however, using a※ UHC: A condition in which all people have access to affordable and proper services to improve their health, prevent or treat illnesses, and recover.

Sysmex analyzer has made faster and moreaccurate diagnoses possible. The analyzer iseasy to operate and can measure samples

Contribution to Malaria Elimination

one by one or automatically measure multiple

Transmitted by mosquitoes, malaria is one of three major infectious diseases deﬁned by the World Health Organization

samples. With the analyzer, you can select an(WHO) and is prevalent mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. As blood samples are used in testing for malaria,

appropriate measurement method according

applying technology accumulated in the hematology area, Sysmex developed an automated hematology analyzer toto the purpose of use. It also enables you

support standardization and optimization of malaria testing. The number of deaths caused by malaria can be reduced

to acquire a great deal of information fromthrough early detection and treatment. By providing an instrument for use in clinical settings that can swiftly anda wide range of measurement targets,conveniently produce useful results for diagnosis, Sysmex is contributing to the elimination of malaria.

including hemoglobin levels, which will contribute to the management of malaria disease.

Interview with a Medical Professional in Burkina Faso

In areas where malaria is endemic, such as Burkina Faso, Sysmex analyzers are in high demand and greatly
help with the treatment of children. I hope these analyzers will be introduced in many medical institutions in

Innovation in Testing for Malaria
The current mainstream method of testing for malaria uses

the ﬁght against malaria.

a rapid diagnostic kit or a microscope. However, both options
pose problems such as the time required, ranging from 15 to 30
minutes, including pretreatment, and the requirement for skilled
techniques in microscopic testing. In contrast, our hematology
analyzer identiﬁes red blood cells infected with the malaria
parasite and determines the percentage of infected cells
without pretreatment, automatically performing both processes
in about one minute※1 with a high degree of accuracy.※2 In
addition, since our hematology analyzer calculates eight CBC
parameters※3 that are measured at the same time in normal
hematology testing, it can provide clinicians with data onother issues, such as anemia and nutrition status, in addition
to detecting malaria. Through the use of this technology andproduct, Sysmex is supporting clinical settings in areas wheremalaria is endemic.
Since 2016, Sysmex Corporation has been involved in theinitiatives of the Malaria Consortium, which consists of research
institutes and enterprises combating malaria, and contribute toproject activities in the ﬁeld of testing and diagnosis conducted
through industry-government-academia partnerships in Asia
and Africa. Sysmex reported on its activities related to a cross-25

Our Contributions to the Quality of HIV Testing Diagnosis and Treatment
Sysmex provides a system to test for CD4+ lymphocytes
developed and produced by Sysmex Partec in emerging anddeveloping countries. It has provided approximately 3,000
tests since 2011 on a cumulative basis. The system measures
the number and proportion of CD4+ lymphocytes in the bloodin just three minutes and is inexpensive, small, and portable,
demanding only simple maintenance. It supports simple, rapid,
and stable testing, aiming to ensure everyone can be tested
equally.
In addition, this system has acquired prequaliﬁcation※ by the
WHO and has been promoted for introduction in countries andSystem to Test for CD4+ Lymphocytes

regions in which medical resources are limited. It improves thequality of HIV diagnosis and treatment in emerging and developing countries.
※ Certiﬁcation system under which the WHO guarantees quality, safety and efﬁcacy, with the aim of ensuring that health care products, including

pharmaceuticals, testing, and vaccines, can be used with a sense of security in countries lacking in resources. The system was launched in 2001
for pharmaceuticals for HIV/AIDS and is now used as a reference list for procurement in emerging and developing countries. The Global Fund toFight AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and other funding organizations preferentially choose products that have acquired prequaliﬁcation.

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Contribution to Strengthening Healthcare

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Public-Private Partnership Project with JICA

Emerging and developing countries need to develop the abilities of medical professionals (capacity building) to solve

Sysmex Corporation conducted the Project for the Dissemination of Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis Technology

health and medical issues. Sysmex continuously provides products, services, and support to medical institutions while

between 2018 and 2022 as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Collaboration Program withincreasing opportunities to provide training and scientiﬁc information to medical professionals. It contributes to thethe Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for the Social and Economic Development of Developing

early detection and treatment of diseases, as well as improving diagnoses and treatment methods by emphasizing thesigniﬁcance and clinical value of testing and the dissemination of diagnostic technology.

Countries. We installed a fully automated urinalysis testing system in Ghana’s national Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital(KATH), and we organized seminars and symposiums that have been attended by 860 local healthcare professionals.
This project was recognized as an effort toward the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), andSysmex was certiﬁed as a “JICA-SDGs Partner.”※ We will remain committed to educating local healthcare professionals

Training for Medical Professionals
Sysmex has established an in-house training center called Sysmex Academy. In addition, it provides globally uniﬁededucational content and skill management tools through the Caresphere™ Academy for online training. This enables us
to conduct educational programs on clinical value and training sessions on instrument maintenance for sales distributors
and medical professionals. In Africa, Sysmex offers mentorship training that it developed to ensure that laboratories’

on the clinical value and effectiveness of automated urinalysis testing technology in our efforts toward high quality
clinical testing in Ghana and other developing countries.
※ From August 2020 to February 2022

quality management systems conform to the international ISO 15189 standard.
▶ Pursuit of Quality and Trust

Technical Support to Provide High-quality Test Data
Sysmex has been engaged in support activities in Asian countries
including China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and thePhilippines to improve the quality and accuracy of clinical tests.
In Mongolia, Sysmex expanded its support activities to thePresentation of JICA’s collaboration program

hemostasis ﬁeld in 2022. It has continued such activities in addition

Equipment installed at KATH

to working in the hematology, clinicalchemistry, and immunchemistryﬁelds in which it had already carried out support activities. Sysmex

Public-Private Partnership with Japanese Embassies Abroad

provides technical and academic knowhow to local clinical laboratory
technicians and supports the establishment and operation of a systemof external quality assesmentsl of blood morphology tests conductedSigning ceremony with Mongolia’s Ministry of Healthnationally, thereby contributing to improving healthcare in Mongolia. In Cambodia, it also carries out similar activities forthe external quality assesments of hematology testings, helping to boost the quality of clinical testing.
In China, its reference counter has been employed as a National Standard※ for Blood Cell Count in China since

In 2022, Sysmex Corporation provided analyzers for hematology and urinalysis to local hospitals through the “Project

For Provision of Medical Equipment and Ambulances In North Central Timor Regency, Nusa Tenggara Timur” as part of
the “Grant Assistance Grass-roots Human Security Project.”Through these efforts, Sysmex works to improve the local medical environment and contributes to the provision of

appropriate treatment opportunities for leprosy patients.

2002, and the registration inspections and external quality assesments for all blood cell counters in China have been
conducted using the reference counter provided by Sysmex as a standard. In addition, Sysmex has been providing
continuous support such as technology transfer and exchange for hematology and reference measurement procedures,
while also assisting in the creation of national clinical laboratory guidelines. Since 2019, it has leased the latest standard
blood cell counters, contributing to improving the accuracy and standardization of hematology tests in China.
※ Analyzer with which to assign the values for the national standard of hematology (number of red blood cells and white blood cells)

Acceptance of JICA Trainees
Sysmex Corporation has worked with JICA in providing training in areas such as analyzermaintenance andmanagement, and hospital management since 1994 to improve healthcare workers’ knowledge and skills. The training

had been offered online due to COVID-19, but it resumed in a face-to-face format in 2022. The number of trainees who
visited Sysmex has exceeded 1,000.

▶ Scientific Activities

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PartnershipAt present, establishing medical infrastructures in response to issues at each stage of economic development is amajor task for developing countries, but their healthcare markets are expected to see growth in the future. As accurate
test results are a starting point for proper healthcare, Sysmex has been building relationships with the health ministry
and medical institutions in each country and region, as well as creating systems for promoting high-quality testingand establishing testing environments. It has also been making efforts to create new value by utilizing international
cooperation and public-private partnership frameworks and collaborating with other companies.

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Initiatives of the Business Leader’s Coalition for Global Health

In April 2022, the Business Leader’s Coalition for Global Health, a group of volunteers consisting of Japanese business leaderswhich aims to contribute to the global health ※ area, delivered a written request titled “Global Health as a New Growth Industry

for Japan: Global Development of a Virtuous Circle for Growth and Distribution” to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Hisashi Ietsugu, Chairperson and Group CEO of Sysmex Corporation, participates in the initiatives of this coalition.

This written request asked the government to take various actions: double ODA in the global health area, position global

health as a principle growth strategy for “New Capitalism,” and strengthen initiatives enabling Japanese companies tocontribute in this area.

Cross-Industry Collaborative Co-creation Project: Contributing to Universal Nutrition Health Coverage
In Ghana, serious healthcare problems include malnutrition - greatest risk factor for death and disability - and malaria,
the leading cause of death. ※1 Malnutrition inhibits growth, delays the development of the body and brain in fetuses andinfants, and causes anemia, increasing the severity risk for malaria. In addition, since the health of children under the ageof ﬁve years and pregnant women is particularly impacted by malaria, ※2 an integrated approach for nutrition, anemia,
and malaria is required.
Sysmex has initiated a co-creation project for improving the health and nutrition of mothers and children in Ghana

In August of the same year, 11 companies participating in the coalition announced “Global Health Actions” at an ofﬁcial side

event of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), with special guest Mr. Bill Gates. Sysmex
made a presentation titled “Fighting malaria with diagnostics” and expressed its intention to aim for a malaria-free world.

In March 2023, the 2nd Global Health Academy podium stressed the signiﬁcance of public-private partnerships in the global

health ﬁeld, and is continuing similar initiatives.
※ Support and business development in healthcare globally, particularly in public health and measures against infectious diseases.

in collaboration with the Ajinomoto Foundation and NEC Corporation. This project is based on existing activities of
the Ajinomoto Foundation together with the Ghana Health Service, which includes behavior modiﬁcation for mothers
and the recommendation of nutritional supplements. By combining high-quality testing with ICT from Japan, we aim tocreate a system for improving the health and nutrition of mothers and children. Sysmex will be responsible for installing
diagnostic instruments for malaria in medical institutions and personnel development and education activities for
medical professionals.
※ 1 The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)

https://www.healthdata.org/ghana※ 2 Children under ﬁve years old are particularly vulnerable to malaria and malnutrition. Malnourished children may develop more severe cases ofmalaria. Additionally, malaria increases the risk of poor outcomes for mothers and newborns, such as anemia and death in pregnant women,
miscarriages, stillbirths, low-birthweight infants, and newborn and infant death.
Nutrition and Malaria: Integrated approach for effective case management

Participating in the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)
Since 2015, Sysmex Corporation has participated in the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund),which states its vision for action as “one in which the crushing burden of infectious disease no longer prevents billions

of people in the developing world from seeking the level of prosperity and longevity now common in the industrialized
world.” In the second phase of operations (2018-2022), the GHIT Fund shifted its activities from the initial productdevelopment to activities to deliver the products to the people who need them. Sysmex will continue to participate

in the Fund’s second-phase operations. By promoting initiatives to develop and provide new reagents for infectious

diseases through Japanese technological innovation, it will contribute to eradicating infectious diseases in developing
countries.

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