Kaneka signs joint development agreement with Terumo Corporation for PTA balloon catheters

Kaneka Corporation (Osaka, Japan; President: Kimikazu Sugawara; hereinafter referred to as Kaneka) and Terumo Corporation (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President: Yutaro Shintaku; hereinafter referred to as Terumo) signed a joint development agreement for PTA*1 balloon catheters for peripheral arteries in March this year. Products jointly developed under this agreement will be manufactured by Kaneka and distributed by Terumo in the United States and other countries worldwide. The products will be supplied to the U.S. market starting in fiscal 2014, and the territories, products and varieties will be expanded gradually in aims of achieving sales of 230,000 units per year by fiscal 2018.
*1 PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) is a procedure used to expand narrowed or occluded lesions of the peripheral arteries (arteries in the arms and legs) from the inside with a balloon at the end of a narrow tube (about 1 mm in diameter) called a catheter. Endovascular treatments using PTA balloon catheters and stents place less stress on the patient’s body compared to conventional drug therapy and surgical procedures and are expected to spread in use around the world.

Kaneka and Terumo signed an agreement for OEM supply of PTA balloon catheters (Terumo product name: Senri) for the European and Japanese markets in 2011 and are continuing to supply those products. This new joint development agreement is not limited to a single product but encompasses a variety of PTA balloon catheters for different therapeutic uses and body parts. Additionally, no limitations have been established for the supply territories.

Kaneka has a lineup of balloon catheters for coronary artery disease*2 and peripheral artery disease based on its polymer material forming and fabrication technology, and their function has been highly acclaimed in the domestic market. In the field of peripheral artery disease, Terumo sells vascular stents as well as other products such as guidewires and sheaths in Europe and Japan. By strengthening their lineup of PTA balloon catheter products, they aim to expand the selection of devices for treatments in this field. Their aim corresponded to Kaneka’s strategy of global expansion, which led to the signing of this agreement.
*2 A collective term for diseases that hinder blood flow in coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart and cause heart trouble. PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) balloon catheters are used to treat them. PTCA is a procedure used to expand narrowed or occluded lesions of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart, from the inside with a balloon at the end of a narrow tube (about 1 mm in diameter) called a catheter.

Kaneka has positioned the field of health care as one of important strategic domains to the company. By supplying OEM products to Terumo, which has a solid domestic and international sales network, in addition to selling products under the Kaneka brand, the company aims to accelerate its global expansion and further expand sales.

Terumo Corporation

1)Main business:	Manufacture and sale of medical equipment, pharmaceutical products, etc.
2)Head office:	44-1, 2-chome, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
3)Representative:	Yutaro Shintaku, Representative Director & President
4)Capital:	38.7 billion yen