Sysmex and ThinkCyte Have Entered into An Agreement for Joint Development and Capital Alliance

Sysmex Corporation and ThinkCyte, Inc. announced today the signing of joint development and investment agreements for the commercialization of an AI-based cell analysis technology in May 2021.

The development of novel testing and diagnostic technologies of high clinical utility is being pursued to improve the precision of diagnoses and maximize treatment as healthcare becomes more accurate and personalized at an increased pace - in combination with the advancement of technology. Meanwhile, telehealth, AI-powered medical imaging analysis, and automated testing of robots are all gaining traction in the healthcare industry.

Sysmex has been acquiring technologies for studying cells, genes, and proteins with high accuracy and sensitivity on a proactive basis. A cell analysis platform is one of the technologies that has been used in a variety of Sysmex products. In this field, Sysmex's current emphasis is on developing technologies that specifically analyze cells using different types of information such as cell function and responsiveness, as well as seeking faster cell analysis.

ThinkCyte has "Ghost Cytometry technology," which analyses morphological information of cells in a quick and simple process, while the information gathered by this technology is much richer than what can be collected using conventional flow cytometry (FCM) technique. This technology, in addition to counting and analyzing cells based on their basic morphological features, helps users to identify each cell based on its specific morphological details in terms of its characteristics and functions. This high-resolution analysis will allow for highly accurate clinical condition determination using body fluids such as blood, improve precision in a wide variety of cell-based diagnoses, and contribute to more personalized healthcare.

On March 31, 2021, Sysmex and ThinkCyte signed a memorandum of understanding to begin full-fledged joint development of the novel AI-based cell analysis technology as a result of ongoing collaborative research between the two companies to increase the viability of applying Ghost Cytometry technology to diagnostic techniques of high clinical value. In addition, on May 1, 2021, the two companies agreed to collaborate on joint development, with the aim of commercializing cell analyzers and testing techniques based on Ghost Cytometry technology for cell analysis (including research) in the field of in-vitro diagnostics (IVD). Meanwhile, on May 11, 2021, Sysmex agreed to make an equity investment in ThinkCyte, which will enable the two companies to enhance their strong partnership.

Sysmex and ThinkCyte have formed an alliance to develop novel cell analysis technology and research techniques by combining Sysmex's IVD capabilities with ThinkCyte's proprietary Ghost Cytometry technology, thereby contributing to the advancement and evolution of healthcare around the world.

About Sysmex Corporation
Sysmex works to contribute to the development of healthcare and people's healthy lives in accordance with its goal of "shaping the advancement of healthcare," as described in the Sysmex Group's corporate ideology, the "Sysmex Way." Sysmex performs integrated R&D, manufacturing, and sales, as well as providing support services for its in vitro blood, urine, and other bodily fluids testing instruments, reagents, and software. Sysmex's products are sold to medical institutions in over 190 countries and regions around the world.

Sysmex has been expanding its business in the life science domain in recent years, using proprietary technologies to develop new testing and diagnostic value, provide healthcare personalized to individual patients, and help patients minimize burdens and improve quality of life.