Yamaha Motor Concludes Joint Marketing Agreement with Netherlands Based MIMETAS - Promoting automation of 3D human disease modeling applications in micro physiological systems (MPS) for pharmaceutical research and development processes -
November 29, 2023
IWATA, November 29, 2023 - Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7272) is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a joint marketing agreement with MIMETAS (head office: The Netherlands), a biotechnology company with a high global market share for 3D human disease modeling applications in their micro physiological system (MPS) in drug development. Through this agreement, the Company will accelerate technological development in pharmaceutical research and development processes by strengthening the efforts to acquire market information and knowledge for technological development in the MPS field, where market expansion is expected in the near future.
MPS is a system that mimics the environment of the human body on a plate (microfluidic plate). It is now starting to be used in tests to examine the safety of drugs and their movement and effects in vivo. The use of MPS can be an alternative to animal testing, as well as a method of replicating rare diseases to further understand their mechanisms. The global market for MPS is expected to expand due to such expectations for the development of effective treatments and medication.
In 2017, Yamaha released the cell picking and imaging system CELL HANDLER(TM) that applies industrial robot technology to streamline the cell culture process. CELL HANDLER(TM) selects target cells with speed and accuracy that were previously difficult to handle manually, and moves between each high-density culture capturing images, and acquiring image information.
As the use of the CELL HANDLER(TM) technology is anticipated to automate and promote the streamlining of work which used to be performed by hand, this led to the joint marketing agreement with MIMETAS, which is engaged in 3D human disease modeling applications. As part of the agreement, a CELL HANDLER(TM) unit will be set up at the MIMETAS Head Office. This location will serve as the world's first demonstration site where customers can experience products of both companies, as well as a base for the two companies to acquire mutual customers and further obtain ongoing market information. Furthermore, through technological development and the acquisition of knowledge through joint research with MIMETAS, Yamaha will also promote the accumulation of case studies using the products of both companies and the establishment of new applications for drug development research.
In the medium-term management plan (2022-2024) announced in February 2022, Yamaha Motor designated several "New businesses" and "Growth businesses" as "Strategic Business Fields." As part of managing its business portfolio, the Company will actively allocate management resources to these businesses in order to develop them into future core businesses. In this context, the Company has positioned the medical and healthcare field as one of its strategic business fields and is aiming to further strengthen its structure to transform this into a future core business as well as to create demand and expand the scale of operations.
■ MIMETAS Company Overview
Name of company: Mimetas B.V. (MIMETAS privately-owned company)
Established: 2013
Location: Leiden, The Netherlands
Research details: development and sales of micro physiological systems for drug discovery and toxicological research, etc.
Website: https://www.mimetas.com/en/home/
■ CELL HANDLER(TM) Cell Picking & Imaging System
Product information: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/business/hc/
■Contact us from the Press
Corporate Communication Division, PR group: +81-538-32-1145
■News Center: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/
MPS is a system that mimics the environment of the human body on a plate (microfluidic plate). It is now starting to be used in tests to examine the safety of drugs and their movement and effects in vivo. The use of MPS can be an alternative to animal testing, as well as a method of replicating rare diseases to further understand their mechanisms. The global market for MPS is expected to expand due to such expectations for the development of effective treatments and medication.
In 2017, Yamaha released the cell picking and imaging system CELL HANDLER(TM) that applies industrial robot technology to streamline the cell culture process. CELL HANDLER(TM) selects target cells with speed and accuracy that were previously difficult to handle manually, and moves between each high-density culture capturing images, and acquiring image information.
As the use of the CELL HANDLER(TM) technology is anticipated to automate and promote the streamlining of work which used to be performed by hand, this led to the joint marketing agreement with MIMETAS, which is engaged in 3D human disease modeling applications. As part of the agreement, a CELL HANDLER(TM) unit will be set up at the MIMETAS Head Office. This location will serve as the world's first demonstration site where customers can experience products of both companies, as well as a base for the two companies to acquire mutual customers and further obtain ongoing market information. Furthermore, through technological development and the acquisition of knowledge through joint research with MIMETAS, Yamaha will also promote the accumulation of case studies using the products of both companies and the establishment of new applications for drug development research.
In the medium-term management plan (2022-2024) announced in February 2022, Yamaha Motor designated several "New businesses" and "Growth businesses" as "Strategic Business Fields." As part of managing its business portfolio, the Company will actively allocate management resources to these businesses in order to develop them into future core businesses. In this context, the Company has positioned the medical and healthcare field as one of its strategic business fields and is aiming to further strengthen its structure to transform this into a future core business as well as to create demand and expand the scale of operations.
■ MIMETAS Company Overview
Name of company: Mimetas B.V. (MIMETAS privately-owned company)
Established: 2013
Location: Leiden, The Netherlands
Research details: development and sales of micro physiological systems for drug discovery and toxicological research, etc.
Website: https://www.mimetas.com/en/home/
■ CELL HANDLER(TM) Cell Picking & Imaging System
Product information: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/business/hc/
MIMETAS's 3D human disease modeling applications in micro physiological system
■Contact us from the Press
Corporate Communication Division, PR group: +81-538-32-1145
■News Center: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/
