TOHO HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. (Headquarters: Tokyo; Representative Director, CEO: Atsushi Udoh; hereinafter “TOHO HOLDINGS”) announces that the Group has agreed to support the research and development of Juntendo University as a special member of GAUDI, an open innovation program implemented at Juntendo University (President: Hajime Arai；hereinafter referred to as “GAUDI”).

TOHO HOLDINGS has set “Business transformation” as one of basic policies in the Medium-term Management Plan 2023-2025 “Create the Next Generation” and set forth concrete measures for “wholesale business transformation” by actively promoting alliances and DX.

GAUDI is a membership-based open innovation program (R & D assistance program) that utilizes a new medical technology development platform that combines Juntendo University’s strengths, such as the largest clinical capabilities in Japan and the technological strength of companies outside of academia, to support R & D of many companies from the consultation stage to practical application seamlessly. In addition, GAUDI supports various issues in R & D such as team building, start-up, R & D financing, non-clinical trials, clinical trials, and business strategy formulation.

As a special member of GAUDI, TOHO HOLDINGS will support R & D and promote joint projects undertaken by the University. This initiative is expected to generate synergies between TOHO HOLDINGS’pharmaceuticals，reagents, medical equipment, customer support system, and other businesses and the R & D seeds supported by Juntendo University GAUDI, and will contribute to solving various issues in the healthcare field and enhance corporate value over the medium to long term.

*The GAUDI Open Innovation Program (Global Alliance under the Dynamic Innovation) is a practical application research support program implemented at the Medical Technology Innovation Center at Juntendo University. https://gaudi-juntendo.jp/