Kyoto, Japan - March 9, 2015 - SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. has made a key investment in iPS Portal, Inc. designed to promote its acquisition of iPS cell technology and the joint development of related equipment. Capitalizing on this opportunity, SCREEN plans to accelerate the development of products in the iPS cell and regenerative medicine fields.

iPS Portal was established in July 2014 to conduct applied research on iPS cell technologies and support the commercialization of related developments. Since this time, the company has been engaged in the development of further applications for iPS cell technology in the drug discovery field and contract manufacturing of iPS cells and related products for the regenerative medicine field. Its activities have been instrumental in expanding the scope of this promising new business area.

In July 2013, SCREEN also launched the Cell³iMager, a high-speed three-dimensional cell culture scanner capable of measuring the multiplication and decline of 3D cultures based on their size and morphology. The Cell³iMager and other advances have helped to propel SCREEN's expansion into the life sciences field as a new area of business. With its investment in iPS Portal, SCREEN plans to strengthen ties with the company's network of affiliated enterprises in the regenerative medicine field and promote joint development of iPS cell-related equipment.

The investment provides an opportunity for SCREEN to expand further into the regenerative medicine field using its iPS cell-related business as an entry point. It will also enable SCREEN to continue its product development and, through this, to contribute to the growth of regenerative medicine field.

■ Overview of iPS Portal

1. Company name: iPS Portal, Inc.
2. Head office: 448-5, Kajii-cho, Imadegawa Kawaramachi, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
3. Capitalization: 744.6 million yen
4. Representative director: Shosaku Murayama

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