Health

Mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by an atypical bacterium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, that primarily infects the walls of the alveoli and the stroma of the lung and bronchial tube. Infants or children are rather easily infected, and 80% of patients are children under 14. The incubation period between infection and symptoms is usually two to three weeks, which is relatively long. It spreads quickly in homes and schools through coughing. Many cases end with mild symptoms, but some can develop into serious illnesses. The disease can be treated effectively without further development or secondary infection if antimicrobial agents are administered while the amount of bacteria is still small. To realize this, accurate diagnosis at the early stage of infection has been sought after on the medical situation.

Fujifilm first launched its highly sensitive immunochromatography influenza diagnostic system in 2011. The product was an application of the silver amplification technology used in the photographic film development process. Our exclusive technology that enables the detection of minute amounts of the influenza virus in the very early stage of infection was highly evaluated, and the system is now widely installed in medical institutions. Application of the same technique to detect other types of infection are also underway. FUJI DRI-CHEM IMMUNO AG Cartridge Myco, a mycoplasma antigen inspection kit that we have released in 2016 enables detection of the antigen at a higher sensitivity compared with conventional diagnostic reagents, offers much higher detection accuracy at an early stage when the amount of bacteria is still small. Mycoplasma pneumonia is usually treated using macrolides, however, the bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics are increasing. In such circumstances, Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., a Fujifilm group company, obtained approval in March 2017 for its OZEX® fine granules 15% for pediatric use, (*) a new quinolone antibiotic for oral use, to include Mycoplasma pneumoniae in its coverage. Toyama Chemical is at the same time conducting a clinical trial of T-4288, a fluoroketolide antibiotic, in Japan. T-4288 is regarded as being a next-generation antibiotic that shows high antibacterial activity against Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other pneumococcus resistant to conventional macrolides.

While drug-resistant bacteria are increasing, development of new antibiotics is actually on a declining trend. This is becoming a global issue. In response to adoption of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance by the World Health Assembly in 2015, the Japanese government also set up a National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in April 2016 towards the prevention of infectious diseases. The Fujifilm Group continues to develop means of diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, which remains an important global issue to address.

* OZEX® fine granules 15% for pediatric use: A newly developed pediatric drug based on OZEX® oral tablets for adults, sold since 1990, in response to requests from a medical association in the pediatric area.