August 29, 2025
PHC Corporation
TOKYO – August 29, 2025 – The Biomedical Division of PHC Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President: Nobuaki Nakamura), has been honored with a 2025 “R&D 100 Award” from R&D World1 for its innovative live cell metabolic pathway analyzer, LiCellMo.
LiCellMo was launched for research use in Japan in September 2024, followed by availability in the United States, UK, EU, China and other Asian select geographies in October 20242 . The device provides continuous real time data on key cellular metabolic pathways3, offering researchers unprecedented visibility into dynamic changes in cell states. This enables more informed decision-making and supports potential breakthroughs and therapeutic development.
Designed to enhance understanding of cellular metabolic mechanisms, LiCellMo also improves reproducibility and quality of cell cultures—critical for developing manufacturing processes for cell and gene therapy products.
The R&D 100 Awards, established in 1963, recognize the 100 most revolutionary technologies of the past year. It is the only science and technology competition that honors new commercially available products, technologies and materials for their technological significance.
In cell and gene therapy (CGT) research, accurately assessing cell states and optimizing culture environments is essential. LiCellMo addresses this need by enabling real-time visualization of metabolic changes in cell cultures. Unlike conventional methods that rely on periodic sampling—risking contamination and missing key transitions—LiCellMo continuously monitors glucose and lactate levels minute by minute. It integrates seamlessly into existing compatible CO2 incubators without altering culture environment, offering a flexible and low-disruption solution to common cell culture challenges.
LiCellMo incorporates proprietary in-line monitoring technology4 originally developed by PHC Corporation’s In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Division for blood glucose sensors. PHC Corporation is a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE: 6523), a member of PHC Group.
Chikara Takauo, Director of PHC Corporation and Head of the Biomedical Division, said, "We are deeply honored that LiCellMo has been recognized with an R&D 100 Award. This innovation empowers researchers with new insights into cell metabolism, particularly in cancer immunology and stem cell research, and supports the advancement of manufacturing processes for next generation therapies. "
1 https://www.rdworldonline.com/revealing-the-2025-rd-100-awards-winners/
2 https://www.phchd.com/global/phc/news/2024/0904
3 A series of biochemical reactions within cultured cells that produce the energy required for cellular functions and survival.
4 A technology that enables continuous measurement of cellular metabolites in culture medium without the need for sampling, achieved by maintaining constant immersion in the medium.
About the Biomedical Division of 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. The Biomedical Division supports the life sciences industry helping researchers and healthcare providers in around 110 countries and regions through its PHCbi-branded laboratory and equipment and services including CO2 incubators and ultra-low temperature freezers.
www.phchd.com/global/phc
About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)
PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Epredia, LSI Medience Corporation, Wemex and Mediford. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. PHC Group’s consolidated net sales in FY2024 were JPY 361.6 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries.
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Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Department
Julia Cottrill
PHC Holdings Corporation
Email: julia.cottrill@phchd.com
Contact for product and service:
Marketing Department, Biomedical Division PHC Corporation
E-mail: masayo.okada@phchd.com