News Releases

The new factory for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) antigen test kit

-- We aim to begin operation early through the participation of Hitachi and Toshiba --

Fujirebio Inc. (hereafter "Fujirebio," headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, President and CEO, Goki Ishikawa), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Miraca Holdings Inc., resolved at the Board of Directors meeting held on June 4 to establish a new production base Fujirebio Asahikawa Factory (tentative name) (hereafter "Asahikawa Factory") in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, for the ESPLINE^® series rapid diagnostic kit. In addition, Toshiba Corporation (President & CEO, Nobuaki Kurumatani) and its group companies (hereafter "Toshiba Group"), and Hitachi, Ltd. (President & CEO, Toshiaki Higashihara) and its group companies (hereafter "Hitachi Group"), will participate in the establishment of Asahikawa Factory to start its operation early.

Fujirebio obtained authorization to produce and market the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) antigen test kit ESPLINE SARS-CoV-2 (hereafter "this kit") on May 13. This kit has already been in clinical use.

However, as it does not seem that the spread the novel coronavirus will end in the foreseeable future, there are expectations for further expansion of the testing capability. This has also increased the necessity of expanding the production capacity of this kit as soon as possible. Asahikawa Factory is scheduled to begin operation as a new production base for this kit by December 2020. Together with Fujirebio Ube Factory, which is already producing this kit, we plan to construct a system that produces more than 400,000 tests per week. We also aim to stabilize supply by having these two production factories in place.

Fujirebio, the Hitachi Group, and the Toshiba Group have reached an agreement on basic matters with the aim of starting Asahikawa Factory operation in a short period of time. Under the terms of this agreement, Hitachi Group will contribute to the establishment of a stable and efficient supply system by providing consulting services for the construction of manufacturing processes and facilities and engineering services for incidental facilities in order to install manufacturing facilities. Toshiba Group will initially provide a production framework, including the building of Toshiba Hokuto Electronics Corporation's Asahikawa Factory, and will support the stable production of this kit by taking advantage of their experience in the production of highly reliable medical components.

Miraca Group, Toshiba Group, and Hitachi Group will contribute to preventing the spread of infection through the early expansion of the novel coronavirus testing capability by building a highly efficient new factory in a significantly shorter period of time.