A group company of EPS Creative Health Technology Group Ltd.（HKEX：3860，Executive Director/CEO Tatsuji Shimada, MBA, hereinafter “EPS CHT”), EPS Innovative Medicine (Japan) Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Tomohiro Nakatani) announced that on January 29, 2024, it acquired shares of Biotube Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Yasuhide Nakayama, PhD, hereinafter “Biotube”), which is developing medical devices specialized in iBTA technology*¹, making Biotube a consolidated subsidiary. EPS CHT intends to create synergies by making Biotube a member of the group company and also to commercialize medical devices.

　EPS CHT is exploring the creation of new businesses in the area of drug discovery, including regenerative medicine, with the aim of providing innovative medical care.

　Biotube has developed a device that enables the subcutaneous formation of Biotube tubular tissue from the patient’s own tissue and is conducting a physician-initiated clinical trial for lower extremity artery bypass surgery for patients with CLI*². The company has also developed a device that enables the subcutaneous formation of tissue bodies in which the patient’s own stem cells and is conducting a physician-initiated clinical trial for wound treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers*³.

　EPS CHT and Biotube will work together as a group to aggressively pursue the early commercialization of iBTA technology*1 for the implementation of new regenerative medicine in society.

　EPS CHT and Biotube will work together as a group to aggressively pursue the early commercialization of iBTA technology*1 for the implementation of new regenerative medicine in society.

Overview of Biotube
Name:Biotube Co., Ltd.
Address:2F Ginza Otake Bijidensu, 1-22-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative:Yasuhide Nakayama, PhD
Establish:2017
Business:Development and sales of medical equipment

About EPS CHT
　In April 2021, EPS Holdings Inc. (Representative Director Hao Yan), a Japanese-based Contract Research Organization (CRO), Site Management Organization (SMO) and Contract Sales Organization (CSO) for pharmaceutical and medical device development in Asia, acquired 75% shares in Speed Apparel Holding Ltd., and renamed the company EPS Creative Health Technology Group Ltd. Currently, we are working on a new healthcare business in China and Asia in cooperation with EPS Holdings, Inc.

Overview of EPS CHT（URL：https://epshk.hk/en/）
Name:EPS Creative Health Technology Group Ltd.（HKEX：3860）
Address: Room 3301, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Representative:Executive Director/CEO Tatsuji Shimada, MBA
Establish:November 19, 2015
Business:　Apparel ODM Business
　　　　　　Drug Discovery Support Business
　　　　　　・Japan-China Specialized CRO Business
　　　　　　・Licensing & Financing Support Business　/　Japan-China Medical Exchange Business
　　　　　　・Japan Pharmaceutical Development Business
　　　　　　HCP (Healthcare Products) Business
　　　　　　Drug Discovery and Development
Capital:HK$ 52,656,000
Parent Company:EPS Holdings, Inc. （URL：https://www.eps-holdings.co.jp/en/）

*1: iBTA (in Body Tissue Architecture) technology is a technology to create tissue for transplantation by utilizing the phenomenon of encapsulation that occurs around a foreign body implanted in the living body.

*2: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a condition in which chronic ischemic rest pain and leg ulcers and gangrene are observed due to arterial occlusive disease. If blood flow to the lower limb is not improved by revascularization, it may result in amputation of the lower limb or death.

*3: Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic patients have narrowed blood vessels in their feet, which reduces blood flow, and they may also suffer from neuropathy such as decreased sensation in the feet, so even if a wound develops due to infection, symptoms such as pain are unlikely to appear and may not be noticed until the condition becomes serious. It is difficult to heal and is also progressive, progressing from an ulcer to gangrene, which may lead to amputation of the lower limb or death.