Gene Solutions, NEWCL Establish NGS Lab in Taiwan

Original from: 360dx

Vietnamese genetic testing firm Gene Solutions said Friday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NEWCL Biomedical Laboratory to establish a next-generation sequencing lab in Taiwan.

Under the agreement, whose financial details were not provided, the companies aim to commercialize Gene Solutions' noninvasive prenatal tests, as well as its multi-cancer early cancer detection, genomic profiling, and minimal residual disease tests (SPOT-MAS, K-Track, and K-4Care, respectively), throughout Taiwan.

The two firms intend to launch their partnered NGS lab and tech transfer later this year.

NEWCL, a subsidiary of Taiwanese medical services supplier Ditech Enterprise, has an established commercial network in Taiwan and provides services to several major hospitals and medical service units. Services include testing for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and allergens, as well as genotyping.

The partnership is Gene Solutions' latest move to expand its footprint throughout Southeast Asia. Last month, the company entered a partnership with Element Biosciences to develop noninvasive prenatal testing tools for commercialization across the region.

The company also partnered with Malaysia's National Cancer Society and earlier this year, published a clinical validation study that it hopes to leverage for wider test distribution.

"We are excited to collaborate with leading partners in Asia to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge precision healthcare technology," Nguyen Hoai Nghia, CEO and cofounder of Gene Solutions, said in a statement. "NEWCL's expertise in laboratory operations and Ditech's market experience will be invaluable in making these advancements accessible in Taiwan."

Source: Gene Solutions, NEWCL Establish NGS Lab in Taiwan