Kaneka concludes license contract with European company and enters the drug-coated balloon business

On December 15, Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mamoru Kadokura) concluded a license agreement with Swiss medical technology company Med Alliance SA (Headquarters: Mont-sur-Rolle, Switzerland, Chairman: Jeffrey B. Jump), hereinafter referred to as “MA”, for the introduction of technology relevant to coronary drug-coated balloons*1 (hereinafter referred to as “DCB”). Kaneka aims to manufacture DCB products by 2020, and distribute into the Japanese market.

By introducing MA’s drug coating technology and combining it with a balloon catheter, we aim to add a lineup of highly deliverable DCB products while continuing to further expand our intervention business.

Ischemic heart disease*2 is generally treated by placing a drug-eluting stent*3 (hereinafter referred to as “DES”) at a stenosed coronary artery, but there are cases where treatment with DES is difficult due to risks of further restenosis inside the DES and stenosis at small vessels or bifurcations. The number of treatments using DCBs that can resolve these issues are expanding rapidly: in the next ten years, we expect to see the market grow to over 200 billion yen within the global market.

MA possesses superior balloon coating technology for an immunosuppressant drug, which has the effect of inhibiting restenosis. Immunosuppressant drugs are water soluble, so in the case of DCB, they have been considered difficult to release gradually. However, by using MA’s technologies, restenosis will be inhibited over a long period of time.

1. A coronary balloon catheter with the balloon part coated by drug to prevent restenosis.
2. A disease where the coronary arteries, which supply nutrients to the heart, become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls and sometimes results in heart failure.
3. A cylindrical metal mesh with drug on it to prevent restenosis.

＜M.A. Med Alliance SA. overview＞