Press Release
Commencement of Collaborative Research on
Measurement of Exosomes in Blood from Cancer Patients
Tokyo, Japan (October 16, 2017) - The National Cancer Center Japan (hereafter, National CancerCenter), JVCKENWOOD Corporation (hereafter, JVCKENWOOD), Sysmex Corporation (hereafter,Sysmex) and Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) announced today thatthey have commenced collaborative research with the aim of raising the quality of cancer diagnosis
and treatment. The collaborative research will target exosome, a microparticle released from tissues.

It has been demonstrated in recent years that cancer patients have high levels of cancer-specificexosomes in their blood. The collaborative research aims to detect such cancer-specific exosomes(for instance, HER2 protein expressing exosome) from patient blood. The research is expected toprovide a new option for patients to make decision for cancer therapy and evaluating drug treatment
outcomes from blood, in addition to current tumor tissue sampling approach.

Regarding individual roles in the collaborative research, JVCKENWOOD will build technologies
that detect cancer-specific exosomes by using its exosome measurement device. Sysmex willevaluate the device created by JVCKENWOOD and will apply its proprietary gene and protein
measurement technologies toward clinical use. National Cancer Center and Daiichi Sankyo will
make effective use of exosome measurement data in improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer
patients.

The research collaboration among a specialist cancer research organization, diagnostic and electronic
device manufacturers and a pharmaceutical company makes it possible to establish this newtechnology for exosome measurement in clinical use. As a result, this exosome measurement isexpected not only to greatly reduce the stress of patients by avoiding multiple tissue biopsies, butalso to provide new therapeutic opportunities to patients in whom the sampling of lesion tissue isdifficult.

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National Cancer Center
The National Cancer Center is a specialist cancer research organization actively engaged indeveloping body fluid diagnosis techniques that reduce discomfort for patients. Regarding exosomes,
the research group led by Takahiro Ochiya, Head of the Center’s Division of Molecular and Cellular
Medicine, has achieved world-leading breakthroughs, such as the development of a system capableof high sensitivity detection of exosomes in patients’ blood, and has abundant experience in body
fluid diagnosis using exosomes and its clinical application.

JVCKENWOOD
JVCKENWOOD has created a high accuracy exosome measurement system applying optical disk
technology called ExoCounter (Note 1) and is in the process of developing it for commercial use.
The company aims to contribute to the collaborative research by providing technology for the highaccuracy detection of exosomes specifically derived from cancer cells, through the further
development of the system.
(Note 1) Joint development with Department of Biochemistry & Integrative Medical Biology,
School of Medicine, Keio University

SysmexIn the field of in vitro diagnostics which examine samples of blood, urine and cell, Sysmex is amajor global player in such areas as hematology, immunochemistry, and hemostasis. Sysmex willcontribute its proprietary gene and protein measurement technologies to the collaborative research. It
will also provide development expertise, including that to achieve reliability, to enable
JVCKENWOOD’s exosome measurement system to be used in clinical practice.

Daiichi SankyoDaiichi Sankyo places major emphasis on anti-cancer agents in R&D activities. It is investigating
ways of screening individual patients prior to their administration in order to reduce the risk ofadverse events and achieve high efficacy, as well as methods of evaluating treatment outcomes fromblood constituents. Daiichi Sankyo is targeting exosomes as a source of information for this purpose.

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＜Inquiries＞
National Cancer Center Japan
Office of Public Relations, Strategic Planning Bureau
5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
104-0045, Japan
TEL: +81-3-3542-2511

FAX：+81-3-3542-2545 Email: ncc-admin@ncc.go.jp

JVCKENWOOD Corporation
Public and Investor Relations Group, Corporate Communication Department
3-12, Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
221-0022 Japan
TEL: +81-45-444-5232

Sysmex Corporation
IR & Corporate Communication Department
1-5-1, Wakinohama Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
651-0073 Japan
TEL: +81-78-265-0508

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited
Corporate Communications Department
3-5-1, Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
103-8426 Japan
TEL: +81-3-6225-1126

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