Tokyo, Japan 5/15/17; Tokyo, Japan 5/15/17—Hitachi High-Technologies (HHT) and Precision System Science (PSS) have announced a business alliance to develop and distribute automated genetic analysis systems and reagents, including systems for PCR and nucleic acid extraction. HHT will also make an equity investment in PSS via a new stock offering, giving it a 10% holding in the company. Under the agreement, PSS will provide systems and reagents to HHT, which will assist in the products’ distribution, sales and production among other types of assistance. The companies will also codevelop a mid-size genetic diagnosis system. Reagents for this system will be developed by PSS and a third party, and distributed by HHT.

The deal gives PSS a large partner with additional resources, while HHT gains additional gene-based analysis expertise and products. PSS is primarily an OEM company. Among its research market partners are QIAGEN, Roche and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Its clinical partners include Abbott and Elitech. For the six months ending December 31, 2016, company sales declined 17.4% to ¥1,938 million ($17.8 million =  ¥108.76 = $1 ) (see IBO 3/31/17). (For PSS’s fiscal third quarter sales, see Bottom Line.)