Agreement for Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (Bioresorbable Stent) sales tie-up in Europe with Kyoto Medical Planning

Kaneka Corporation (Osaka, Japan; President: Mamoru Kadokura) reached a basic agreement with Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan; President: Keiji Igaki) on April 1, 2015 for a sales tie-up covering sales of BVS in the European market. Kyoto Medical Planning acquired the CE mark*1 for BVS in 2007 and was the first in the world to commercialize such bioresorbable product. It is already selling BVS for peripheral lesion in Europe under the product name “Remedy,” and Kaneka group company Kaneka Pharma Europe N. V. will support its sales within the European Union (EU).

Metallic Stents*2 are frequently used to treat coronary arteries and peripheral arteries of the lower extremities that have become narrowed or obstructed. Remedy is made from poly-lactic acid (PLLA), a polymer that is slowly hydrolyzed into water and CO2. Once placed in the blood vessel, it gradually dissolves over a period of two to three years, reducing the incidence of restenosis in the form of blockages resulting from foreign material remaining in the blood vessel. Additionally, because these stents do not remain in the body as foreign material like conventional metallic stents, even if the blood vessel is narrowed again in the same place, they do not prevent the placement of another stent or other such retreatments.

BVS are expected to account for more than 50% of all stents used in the treatment of coronary arteries in the future. Beginning with the sales tie-up with Kyoto Medical Planning in Europe, Kaneka will engage in full-scale rollout of BVS in the global market with the aim of achieving ¥60 billion in sales in the field of intravascular treatment, including both coronary and peripheral segments, by the year 2020.

1. The CE mark is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold in the EU. It indicates compliance with Essential Requirements set forth within EU Directives and regulations in each product category.
2. Stents are small expandable mesh tubes made of stainless steel, cobalt alloy or other metal. Stents attached to balloon catheters expand within blocked arteries to restore blood flow.

Kyoto Medical Planning Co., Ltd.

Business	：Manufacture and sale of medical equipment (machines, tools, disposable products) and other products and consulting related to same
Established	：1985
Capital	：¥22 million
Head office	：Furuhashi Yamashina Bldg., 4 Kanda-cho Shinomiya, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8035, JAPAN
Representative	：Keiji Igaki, Representative Director

Kaneka Pharma Europe N. V.

Business	：Sales of blood purification systems, pharmaceutical intermediates and functional foods
Established	：1994
Capital	：€2 million
Head Office	：Triomflaan 173, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium
Representative	：Masaaki Kimura, Managing Director