When Nisa Leung was pregnant with her first child in 2012, her doctor in Hong Kong offered her a choice. She could take a prenatal test that would require inserting a needle into her uterus, or pay $130 more for an exam that would draw a little blood from her arm.
Leung opted for the simpler and less risky test, which analyzed bits of the babys DNA that had made its way into her bloodstream. Then, Leung went on to do what she often does when she recognizes a good product: look around for companies to invest in.
The managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners decided to put money into Chinese genetic testing firm Berry Genomics, which eventually entered into a partnership with the Hong Kong-based inventor of the blood test. Over the next few months, Berry is expected to be absorbed into a Chinese developer in a 4.3 billion yuan ($625 million) reverse merger. And Leungs venture capital firm would be the latest to benefit from a boom in so-called precision medicine, an emerging field that includes everything from genetic prenatal tests to customizing treatments for cancer patients.
Source: Qiming Venture Partners
China has made the precision medicine field a focus of its 13th five-year plan, and its companies have been embarking on ambitious efforts to collect a vast trove of genetic and health data, researching how to identify cancer markers in blood, and launching consumer technologies that aim to tap potentially life-saving information. The push offers insight into Chinas growing ambitions in science and biotechnology, areas where it has traditionally lagged developed nations like the U.S.
Investing in precision medicine is definitely the trend, said Leung,whos led investments in more than 60 Chinese health-care companies in the past decade. As China eyes becoming a biotechnology powerhouse globally, this is an area we will venture into for sure and hopefully be at the forefront globally.
New Chinese firms like iCarbonX and WuXi NextCode that offer consumers ways to learn more about their bodies through clues from their genetic make up are gaining popularity. Chinese entrepreneurs and scientists are also aiming to dominate the market for complex new procedures like liquid biopsy tests, which would allow for cancer testing through key indicators in the blood.
iCarbonX founder Wang Jun.
Photographer: Calvin Sit/Bloomberg
Such research efforts are still in early stages worldwide. But doctors see a future beyond basic commercial applications, aiming instead for drugs and treatment plans tailored to a persons unique genetic code and environmental exposure, such as diet and infections.
Isaac Kohane, a bioinformatics professor at Harvard University, says when it comes to precision medicine, the science community has Google maps envy. Just as the search engine has transformed the notion of geography by adding restaurants, weather and other locators,more details on patients can give doctors a better picture on how to treat diseases.
For cancer patients, for example, precision medicine might allow oncologists to spot specific mutations in a tumor. For many people with rare ailments like muscle diseases or those that cause seizures, it allows for earlier diagnosis. Pregnant women, using the kind of tests that Leung used, could also learn more about the potential for a child to inherit a genetic disease.
The global interest in the field comes as the cost of sequencing DNA, or analyzing genetic information, is falling sharply. But a number of hurdles remain. Relying on just genes isnt enough, and there must also be background information on a patients lifestyle and medication history.
Precision medicine applications also require heavy investment to store large amounts of information. A whole genome is over 100 gigabytes, according toan e-mailed response to questions from Edward Farmer, WuXi NextCodes vice-president of communications and new ventures. So you can imagine that analyzing thousands or hundreds of thousands of genomes is a true big data challenge."
WuXi NextCode was formed after Shanghai-based contract research giant WuXi AppTec Inc. acquired genomic analysis firm NextCode Health, a spin-off from Reykjavik, Iceland-based Decode Genetics, which has databases on the islands population. Wuxi NextCode continues to have an office in Iceland, where the population is relatively homogenous and therefore good for gene discovery.
Source: WuXi NextCODE
"Genomics today is like the computer industry in the 70s," said Hannes Smarason, WuXi NextCodes co-founder and chief operating officer. "Weve made great progress but theres still a long way to go.
In China, Wuxi NextCode now offers consumers genetic tests that cost between about 2,500 yuan and 8,000 yuan, providing more details on rare conditions a child might be suffering from or even the risk of passing on an inherited disease.
China is diverse and with 1.4 billion people, the planets most populous nation. WuXi NextCode announced a partnership with Huawei Technologies Co.,Chinas largest telecommunications equipment maker, in May to enable different institutions and researchers to store their data.
The goal is to use that deep pool of information -- which ranges from genome sequences to treatment regimens -- to find more clues on tackling diseases. WuXi says that this will in many instances enable the largest studies ever undertaken in many diseases.
The most important market news of the day.
Get our markets daily newsletter.
The global precision medicine market was estimated to be worth $56 billion in revenue at the end of 2016,with China holding about 4 to 8 percent of the global market, according to a December report from Persistence Market Research.
Encouraging interventions for some patients too early, even before they have life-threatening diseases, comes with risks and ethical questions, Laura Nelson Carney,an analyst at Sanford C Bernstein, wrote in a Jan. 6 note. Still, precision medicine research has many benefits, and some in China see the countrys push as a significant opportunity "to scientifically leapfrog the West, she said.
In the U.S., universities, the National Institutes of Health and American drugmakers are part of a broad march into precision medicine.
Amgen Inc. bought Icelandic biotechnology company DeCode Genetics for $415 million in 2012, to acquire its massive database on Icelands population. U.S.-based Genentech Inc. is collaborating with Silicon Valley startup 23andMe to study the genetic underpinnings of Parkinsons disease.
Humans are computable," saidWang Jun, the chief executive officer of ChinasiCarbonX. "So we need a computable model that we can use to intervene and change peoples status, thats the whole point.
See the article here:
China Turns to Precision Medicine in Fight Against Cancer ... - Bloomberg
- IOM not webcast today. Why Not? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- National Academies skeptical at Best. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Some Confusion Exists - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Why DTC Genomics IS Medicine. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- First Mari, Now Linda. Who's next? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Is it true? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Re-Reviewing the National Academies - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- The problem with nonclinicians....... - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Crazy Night of Emails to Government - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Adrienne Carlson's Personalized Medicine. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Tell Me, How do you feel now? Sherpa's RX - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- This Just In. 23andMe to go to GPs. I love my readers!! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Sorry so long away - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- 2D6 Rears its ugly head..... - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Ok, Fine, Back to Plavix - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Kaiser a protoype for Collins' Aim - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- A few months late to the party.... - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stated Another Way....... - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Excuse Me? Harvard and Navigenics? WTF? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Follow up to Yesterday's WTF? Harvard, Navi? and Pfizer??? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Did you get your kit? Thanks Dr. Rob from MedCo - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gluco...Wha? Parkinson's Disease and Glucocerebrosidase mutations. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Away and now back, What did I miss???? 23andme layoffs? Selling Genomes for cheap up next! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Change IS Needed. I agree with William, sometimes. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Good Enough Science? Apparently so at 23andme - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Long QT Syndrome, location matters - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Congratulations Generation Health. Nice pick up! - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- An argument 23andSerge can't win...23andme but not medicine - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Stop. Breathe. Repeat. An analysis of the direction of DTC Genomics Field. - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Hey DTC genomics, Stay Private, Stay Alive, Go Public and Die - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- You can't have it both way. Either scared your genome is sold off or not. - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- 15 Days Away Gives Time for Perspective. - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- What about the SACGHS registry? Another missed opportunity? - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- AJHG is in and my Favorite Muin is in it! But He Is NOT the Father! - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Navigenics for 23andMe prices? - December 18th, 2009 [December 18th, 2009]
- Lp(a) Maybe there's something there that wasn't there before? - December 24th, 2009 [December 24th, 2009]
- Another Year, Another Bankruptcy - December 31st, 2009 [December 31st, 2009]
- 5 Technologies going bye bye in this decade? - January 6th, 2010 [January 6th, 2010]
- Hackers, HITECH and HIPAA in DTC Genomics, Oh My! - January 7th, 2010 [January 7th, 2010]
- Personal Genomics Flop.....big Belly Flop! - January 8th, 2010 [January 8th, 2010]
- Gotta Love It. Even the daycare....... - January 11th, 2010 [January 11th, 2010]
- Congratulations Navigenics. You ARE a clinical lab! Uh-Oh... - January 12th, 2010 [January 12th, 2010]
- CETP, Jewish Centenarians and Alzheimers - January 14th, 2010 [January 14th, 2010]
- Enter the "Not" DTC Genomics Rep - January 17th, 2010 [January 17th, 2010]
- Why Dr. Vanier's Navigenics appointment is good for PM - January 22nd, 2010 [January 22nd, 2010]
- Holy Crap! MedCo Follows in CVS footsteps - February 3rd, 2010 [February 3rd, 2010]
- FDA, Warfarin, still not as sexy to me. - February 5th, 2010 [February 5th, 2010]
- Hype, Hype, Hype from a single study. - February 11th, 2010 [February 11th, 2010]
- I love my readers, even Renata M! - February 17th, 2010 [February 17th, 2010]
- How can insurers use DTC genomics to profile? - February 17th, 2010 [February 17th, 2010]
- 9p21.....ahem. Paynter et.al. Smackdown. Again. - February 18th, 2010 [February 18th, 2010]
- Hey! It's Pete Hulick! Are you Going to GET? - February 19th, 2010 [February 19th, 2010]
- I was wrong......AHEM - February 28th, 2010 [February 28th, 2010]
- G2C2, finally a tool for genomic education! - March 2nd, 2010 [March 2nd, 2010]
- Just 4 million? What 23andMe is worth. - March 5th, 2010 [March 5th, 2010]
- What a difference a year makes - March 9th, 2010 [March 9th, 2010]
- ........DTC Genomic Medicine? - March 12th, 2010 [March 12th, 2010]
- The FDA, 2c19 and the ACC - March 13th, 2010 [March 13th, 2010]
- The problem with Comparative Whole Genomics...... - March 13th, 2010 [March 13th, 2010]
- BRCA testing by 23andME is the same as Myriad Genetics. - March 15th, 2010 [March 15th, 2010]
- The Argument Against DTC Genomics Marketing and such - March 16th, 2010 [March 16th, 2010]
- A moment of Clarity. Some DTCG is not bad. - March 18th, 2010 [March 18th, 2010]
- SNPs for breast cancer risk? It Depends. - March 18th, 2010 [March 18th, 2010]
- How can MDVIP use Navigenics Test for Medicine? - March 18th, 2010 [March 18th, 2010]
- Why did P&G invest in Navigenics? - March 23rd, 2010 [March 23rd, 2010]
- PGx in DTCG? Doesn't stand up to Useful testing. - March 25th, 2010 [March 25th, 2010]
- End of Gene Patents? - March 29th, 2010 [March 29th, 2010]
- Sherpa Accepting Chief Medical Officership - April 3rd, 2010 [April 3rd, 2010]
- The Rumors of My Death........ - April 20th, 2010 [April 20th, 2010]
- Happy DNA Day! - April 25th, 2010 [April 25th, 2010]
- 99 USD, DNA day and patient letters - April 25th, 2010 [April 25th, 2010]
- 2C19, Navigenics and Clinical Reality. - May 1st, 2010 [May 1st, 2010]
- Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative rising - May 7th, 2010 [May 7th, 2010]
- Personal Genomes in Clinical Care. Quake paper is a waste! - May 11th, 2010 [May 11th, 2010]
- Personal Genomes in Clinical Care. Quake paper Falls Short! - May 13th, 2010 [May 13th, 2010]
- Last post edited by Drew - May 13th, 2010 [May 13th, 2010]
- GateKeeper? FCUK U! - May 13th, 2010 [May 13th, 2010]
- GateKeeper? F! U! - May 15th, 2010 [May 15th, 2010]
- Potential of genomic medicine, LOST - May 19th, 2010 [May 19th, 2010]
- How Bad Can a House Investigation be for DTC Genomics? - May 20th, 2010 [May 20th, 2010]