EMD Millipore Announces Clinical Research, Licensing and Joint Development Agreement with Sysmex Corporation

• Sysmex to use EMD Millipore’s Amnis imaging flow cytometry technologies
• Potential to transform hematology research and diagnostics
• New diagnostic testing technology supports personalized medicine

March 17, 2014, Billerica, MA — EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced a clinical research, licensing and joint development agreement with Sysmex Corporation of Japan. This collaboration will use EMD Millipore’s flow cytometry technology as a platform to accelerate the creation of new, more powerful diagnostic tools for research in blood disorders. If successful, Sysmex and EMD Millipore will collaborate on developing the imaging flow technology platform for future commercialization in hematology.

“Sysmex is a global leader in clinical diagnostics and we are pleased to have this opportunity to partner with them to advance hematology research and diagnostics,” said Robert Yates, President of the EMD Millipore Division.

Sysmex is conducting a clinical study assessing EMD Millipore’s Amnis imaging flow cytometry technology for hematologic disorders such as leukemia. Once clinical research is complete, both parties intend to combine the imaging flow cytometry technology with Sysmex’s technologies to develop new imaging flow cytometry technology that will generate image data of molecular (protein) expression status, as well as the identification of abnormal cells in the blood. Sysmex aims to promote the creation of new diagnostic technologies that will lead to the realization of personalized medicine and contribute to the advancement of healthcare by meeting increasingly diverse and sophisticated testing needs.

The first step in the EMD Millipore-Sysmex collaboration will be a clinical trial of the Amnis technology using patient blood samples to detect and characterize leukemic conditions and other hematologic disorders. An earlier joint feasibility study showed very encouraging results.

“EMD Millipore’s Amnis imaging flow cytometry has the potential to transform hematologic research and diagnostics,” said Yates. “We believe this agreement will lead to improved care for patients around the world.”

About EMD Millipore
EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, EMD Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 66 countries and 2013 revenues of €2.6 billion. 

About Sysmex Corporation
Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemization and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 40 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimize individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 6,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.