Showa Denko Materials Signs a Joint Research Agreement with the National Cancer Center Japan on the Development of Rapid Cell-Mediated Immunity tests to the Novel Coronavirus

June 28, 2021

Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.

Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Hisashi Maruyama; hereinafter “Showa Denko Materials”) announces the signing of a joint research agreement with the National Cancer Center Japan (President: Hitoshi Nakagama; location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter “NCC”) in March to develop rapid cell-mediated immunity tests^※1 to the novel coronavirus (hereinafter “SARS-CoV-2”) and the launch of joint research in April.

Amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease (hereinafter “COVID-19”), various research institutes and companies have developed different types of SARS-CoV-2 tests. To diagnose COVID-19, PCR and antigen^※2 tests are used around the world to identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the body, while antibody testing to detect antibodies^※3 in the blood as an indicator of acquired immunity^※4 against SARS-CoV-2 is performed when conducting epidemiological surveys for past infections and to determine vaccine efficacy.
Acquired immunity has two components: humoral immunity, which defends against antigens by producing antibodies, and cell-mediated immunity, in which immune cells attack and destroy abnormal cells infected with viruses and other pathogens. Antibody tests currently in use are designed to monitor the acquisition of humoral immunity. Meanwhile, cell-mediated immunity is also recognized as playing an important role in protecting against infections, as several studies have revealed that cell-mediated immunity is longer-lasting than humoral immunity.^※5 Cell-mediated immunity tests are therefore expected to serve as an important tool for assessing the strength of acquired immunity and the efficacy of vaccines against potentially emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, the existing tests have proven unsuitable for handling a large number of samples because of complicated processes and the two- to seven-day wait for test results.

To overcome these challenges, Showa Denko Materials signed a joint research agreement with NCC to develop cell-mediated immunity tests for SARS-CoV-2, and began working on new rapid testing methods with Tetsuya Nakatsura, chief of the Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, and members of his group at the NCC Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (Director: Atsushi Ochiai; location: Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture; hereinafter “EPOC”).
Nakatsura, chief of the Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, and his group members are also applying research on cancer immunotherapy to develop vaccines related to cell-mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2. For this joint research, his group plays a central role in designing test concepts by utilizing its knowledge and analysis technology acquired through vaccine development research. From Showa Denko Materials’ side, two group companies are taking part: Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics Systems Co., Ltd.(to be renamed Minaris Medical Co., Ltd. in July), which operates our businesses of in vitro diagnostics, etc., and Showa Denko Materials (America), Inc. Research Center, which researches and develops life sciences-related technologies in the United States. By leveraging the two companies’ measurement core technologies and development capabilities for cell-mediated immunity tests and other applications as well as their overseas networks, Showa Denko Materials aims to advance the development of rapid test kits capable of providing same-day results and to expand its business in Japan, the United States, and other regions.
In addition, the outcomes of this joint research are expected to be useful for epidemiological studies and vaccine efficacy evaluation to deal not only with COVID-19 but future pandemics of emerging infectious diseases^※6 as well.

Showa Denko Materials will bring together the creativity of our Group to create technologies, products, and services that support disease prevention, diagnosis, and medical care with a view to realizing personalized medicine in the future, thereby contributing to an improvement in the quality of life through our business efforts.

 

• ※1 Cell-mediated immunity tests: Cell-mediated immunity refers to an immune response in which immune cells, mainly lymphocytes known as T cells, attack foreign organisms. Cell-mediated immunity tests examine antigen-specific T cells activated by certain antigen stimuli.
• ※2 Antigen refers to a protein unique to foreign organisms such as viruses.
• ※3 Antibody refers to a protein (immunoglobulin) produced to eliminate antigens.
• ※4 Acquired immunity refers to antigen-specific immune responses induced by contact with antigens such as viruses, and has two components – humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, both of which are recognized as playing an important role in protecting against infections.
• ※5 Cañete PF, Vinuesa CG. Cell. 183:14 (2020), etc.
• ※6 Emerging infectious diseases refer to infectious diseases that have recently been recognized as posing a local or international public health threat, with examples including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection (E. coli O157), Ebola hemorrhagic fever, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

 

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