October 2, 2023
PHC Corporation
2-38-5 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8433, Japan
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
3-19 Kasuga-cho, Ashiya, Hyogo 659-0021, Japan
(TSE 4552)
Tokyo and Hyogo, October 2, 2023 - The In Vitro Diagnostics Division of PHC Corporation (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Nobuaki Nakamura, hereafter PHC IVD) and JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Ashiya, Hyogo, Chairman, President and CEO: Shin Ashida, hereafter JCR) announce new functionality features for Melon NikkiTM*1, a dedicated smartphone app for growth hormone therapy medication management for use with motorized digital injectors GROWJECTOR® Duo*2 and GROWJECTOR® L*3. The updated app is available only in Japan on the Apple App Store and Google Play beginning on October 1, 2023.
GROWJECTOR® Duo and GROWJECTOR® L are motorized digital injectors that are designed to help improve medication adherence among pediatric patients using injectable growth hormone therapy in Japan. The devices are manufactured by PHC IVD, to be used exclusively for the recombinant human growth hormone GROWJECT® subcutaneous 6mg and 12mg*4 treatment which is manufactured and sold by JCR.
The Melon NikkiTM smartphone app, jointly developed by PHC IVD and JCR, was first launched in October 2020. The app can be used to check the dosing history recorded by products in the GROWJECTOR® injector series via wireless communication. The app can record information including the injection site of the body, generate growth curve graphs based on patient height and weight data, and email the data as a PDF file. Furthermore, Melon NikkiTM supports young patients and their caregivers through a feature*5 that creates digital avatars to help ease anxiety over injections and encourage proactive treatment.
When used together with GROWJECTOR® injectors, the Melon NikkiTM app is designed to support long-term treatment and improve medication adherence by addressing lifestyle needs of pediatric patients of different ages.
— Updated Features of Melon NikkiTM —
- Compatible with the new GROWJECTOR® Duo launched in September 2023.
- A simple screen mode designed for older pediatric patients, in addition to the original screen mode designed for younger children.
- Syringe replacement history in the dosing records calendar.
- Increased number of registerable accounts from 30 to 50, enabling healthcare providers to look after more patients' records.
- Upgraded avatar features, including 20 new avatar items like pets and vehicles, and options to view collected items and archive avatars to help users visualize their continued treatment.
Melon NikkiTM Website: jcrgh.com/melonnikki/top.html
Supporting self-injection with the GROWJECTOR® series via Melon NikkiTM
Hiroyuki Tokunaga, Board Member of PHC Corporation and Director of PHC IVD, said, “We aim to provide solutions that help patients visualize and manage their health information, at hospitals, in clinics, and from home, using precision manufacturing and digital technology. We designed the updated Melon NikkiTM app to support effective patient care. We are committed to offering best-in-class healthcare solutions that help improve patients' quality of life.”
Toru Ashida, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Sales Division at JCR, said, “We are dedicated to engaging in research and development to meet the needs of patients undergoing human growth hormone treatment using the GROWJECTOR® series and Melon NikkiTM. We are excited for this app update to improve the treatment experience for patients and healthcare providers. We are also looking forward to this app contributing to further possibilities in the digital transformation of healthcare. Our continuous focus is on offering a wide range of treatment options for growth disorders and contributing to pediatric medicine."
* GROWJECT, GROWJECTOR, and Melon Nikki are registered trademarks or trademarks of JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
- App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc.
- Google Play and Android are trademarks of Google LLC.
- The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by PHC Corporation is under license.
- iOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any use of such trademark is under license.
*1 Melon Nikki™ is compatible with Android OS and iOS devices and enables the transfer and storage of dosing history data in GROWJECTOR® Duo via Bluetooth® connection and GROWJECTOR® L via Bluetooth® connection or NFC. It does not include functions classified as medical devices.
*2 Japanese Medical Device Nomenclature: Reusable medication/vaccine injector, Marketing certificate number: 305AABZX00019000
ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/4552/tdnet/2333866/00.pdf
www.phchd.com/global/phc/news/2023/0829
*3 Japanese Medical Device Nomenclature: Reusable medication/vaccine injector, Marketing certificate number: 228AABZX00109000
*4 Approved indications of GROWJECT® 6 mg/GROWJECT® 12 mg
- Short stature in Growth Hormone Deficiency without epiphyseal closure
- Short stature in Turner Syndrome without epiphyseal closure
- Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (limited to severe cases)
- Short stature due to Small-for-gestational age (SGA) without epiphyseal closure
- Short stature due to SHOX abnormality without epiphyseal closure
Please visit JCR website for further information: jcrgh.com/index.html
*5 This function allows avatars (a character that serves as a pediatric patient's alter ego) to grow on the application as the patient grows. The users can replace parts such as clothes and pets and communicate with other affected children via the avatar about daily treatment.
About In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Division, PHC Corporation
Established in 1969, PHC Corporation is a Japanese subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523), a global healthcare company that develops, manufactures, sells and services solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. With the mission to contribute to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people, the IVD Division has worked to improve medical services for patients by contributing to early diagnosis and effective medical care for diseases such as diabetes and asthma through development, manufacturing, and distribution of testing and analyzing devices including blood glucose monitoring systems.
www.phchd.com/global/ivd
About JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd
JCR is a specialty pharma company engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of biopharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine with a focus on rare diseases. Its philosophy, “Contributing towards people’s healthcare through pharmaceutical products” drives JCR to create innovative pharmaceutical products as value-added treatment options for the under-served patient populations.
www.jcrpharm.co.jp/en/site/en/index.html
For enquiries:
[For product enquiries]
In Vitro Diagnostics Division of PHC Corporation
Phone: +81-70-1449-9486 / +81-70-1226-3325
E-mail: ivd-communications@gg.phchd.com
[For IR and media enquiries]
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Department
PHC Holdings Corporation
Phone: +81-3-6778-5311
E-mail: phc-pr@gg.phchd.com
IR/PR Office, Administration Division, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
Phone: +81-797-32-1995
E-mail: ir-info@jp.jcrpharm.com