Terumo Launches Revolutionary Blood Collection Tubes Using Snake Venom-Derived Technology in Japan
Key Insights
Terumo Corporation has launched VenoJect II RAPClot (search) blood collection tubes in Japan, featuring Q-Sera's patented technology derived from snake venom proteins.
The innovative tubes reduce serum processing time to just five minutes, even from anticoagulated blood, representing the first major innovation in blood collection in decades.
Q-Sera is now seeking global partnerships to expand the RAPClot (search) technology beyond Japan, potentially transforming laboratory diagnostics worldwide.
Japanese medical device giant Terumo Corporation has launched the first commercial blood collection tubes utilizing revolutionary technology derived from snake venom proteins, marking a significant breakthrough in laboratory diagnostics. The VenoJect II RAPClot (search) tubes, developed through an exclusive partnership with Australian biotech Q-Sera, represent the first major innovation in blood collection technology in decades.
Snake Venom Technology Transforms Blood Processing
Q-Sera's patented RAPClot (search) technology harnesses prothrombin activators (search) originally identified from specific snake venoms to dramatically accelerate blood clotting. The recombinant ecarin (search) proteins enable rapid production of high-quality serum for biochemical analysis in just five minutes, even from anticoagulated blood samples.
"VenoJect II RAPClot (search) tubes are a true innovation in blood collection tubes and have the potential to dramatically improve issues such as coagulation time, heparinized blood, and fibrin strands in tests with serum," said Wataru Ninokura, Director of Essential Medical Products at Terumo. "It will be a great pleasure for us to be able to directly contribute to improving the accuracy of diagnosis."
Commercial Manufacturing and Quality Standards
The development involved scaling Q-Sera's recombinant ecarin (search) technology to commercial levels through contract manufacturer Bora Biologics (search), utilizing standard biopharmaceutical processes to ensure high-quality production. Terumo holds exclusive rights to manufacture and market the VenoJect II RAPClot (search) tubes in Japan under the licensing agreement.
The technology addresses critical challenges in laboratory diagnostics by reducing turnaround time from sample collection to serum analysis compared to current technologies, ultimately improving laboratory management and patient care outcomes.
Global Expansion Strategy
Q-Sera CEO Michael Grant emphasized the significance of the Japanese launch as a stepping stone for international expansion. "Japan has a history of innovation in blood collection tubes with Terumo Corporation a leader in this sector, and we are delighted to have achieved our first commercial launch, working in partnership with them, offering improved laboratory management and patient outcomes," Grant stated.
The company is actively pursuing partnerships for blood collection tube markets and diagnostic sectors outside Japan to bring the advantages of RAPClot (search) technology to global partners worldwide.
University Origins and Investment Support
The technology originated from intellectual property developed at The University of Queensland and licensed through UniQuest (search), the university's commercialization company. Q-Sera has secured investment from prominent Australian life science investors, including Brandon BioCatalyst (search), Uniseed (search), and the UniQuest Extension Fund, with additional support from the Australian Government through Austrade.
The successful launch positions Q-Sera to capitalize on the global blood collection tube market while addressing longstanding challenges in laboratory diagnostics and patient care efficiency.