Nikon 2015 Annual Report Download - page 27

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NIKON REPORT 2015
Following the Revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which became effective in
November 2014, we plan to build a business base in the eld of regenerative medi-
cine, where market revitalization is expected. Although we are still some distance away
from making contributions to prot, I regard any entry into a new business domain as
indispensable for future growth.
In addition to earning stable revenues from the existing biological microscope busi-
ness, we will accelerate business development in new domains, such as regenerative
medicine, and aim to bring the Medium-Term Management Plan to fruition.
Q Please tell us your views on the prospects for Nikon’s new business
domain, the eld of regenerative medicine.
We have been developing business in the manufacture and sales of the BioStation CT,
which is a cell culture observation system for live cells, including iPS cells, since
2007. In 2013, we took an equity stake in Healios K.K. (formerly Retina Institute
Japan, K.K.) and are now working toward the realization of regenerative medicine for
patients with retinal disease, such as age-related macular degeneration, which Healios
addresses using iPS cells.
In May 2015, Nikon signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Lonza, of
Switzerland, the world’s largest manufacturer of cells for regenerative medicine thera-
peutics, and announced the Company’s entry into the contract manufacturing of regen-
erative medicine products in Japan. While incorporating the know-how in high-quality
cell manufacturing technologies that Lonza possesses, Nikon will use its live cell imag-
ing technologies that analyze the state of living cells, one of its strengths, which will lead
to success in the contract manufacturing of cells for regenerative medicine.
In the future, centered on the know-how gained from the manufacture of equip-
ment that assays cell quality, the establishment and supply of protocols, or procedures
for cell generation, will come into view.
The recording of sales from the new business in the regenerative cell eld is
expected from the scal year ending March 31, 2018, onward. Full-scale business
operations are being considered from around 2020.
Q Please tell us about the long-term prospects for the
Microscope Solutions Business Unit.
To simply express our vision of what we are aiming to offer, I think it comes down to
wanting to remain a business unit that utilizes science to contribute to people’s health.
To be more specic, we will quickly gain an early leading position in the biological
microscope business. By entering the regenerative medicine eld, we will be able to
build relationships with new customers, which I believe will lead to business opportu-
nities for biological microscopes. In addition, in new business domains, I would like to
be ready for future major advances in the regenerative medicine market through iPS
cells, develop the necessary products and consumables to optimize the production of
high-quality cells, and provide total solutions, including hardware and software. I will
aspire to establishing us in the leading position, so when somebody speaks of regen-
erative medicine, people immediately think of Nikon.
Super resolution microscope
N-STORM 4.0
After image analysis
* Yellow areas: Designated mature
cells automatically determined
through image analysis
Cell culture observation system
BioStation CT
Image Analysis (Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells)
Before image
analysis
Business Strategy