May 19, 2021
China is home to one of the world鈥檚 fastest-growing genomics markets. In 2020, Chinese genetic testing companies in the primary market raised over RMB 19.3 billion (US $3 billion) in financing鈥攁n annual growth rate of .
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can markedly improve human health, enabling earlier diagnoses for rare diseases, more precise pathogen monitoring, and better outcomes for cancer patients.
Every year, four million people in China are diagnosed with cancer and in 2020, the country accounted for . While NGS testing is the only way to match patients with life-saving, personalized therapies鈥攁nd there are now more than 55 oncology therapies that require genomic CDx testing鈥攋ust five percent of China鈥檚 cases are sequenced.
鈥淥ne set of DNA sequencing may create a different future for a patient,鈥� said Han Yusheng, CEO of Burning Rock Dx last week at the first in Shanghai. 鈥淧recise testing is becoming increasingly important in comprehensive disease management.鈥� Yusheng founded Burning Rock to develop clinical tests and partner with hospitals to promote standardized NGS testing in oncology.
Yusheng was among more than 300 top genomic scientists, venture capitalists, and hospital executives in attendance at the in-person NGS Summit. The sold-out event, hosted by VR真人彩票 China, was held in the city鈥檚 historic Hongkou District, at the landmark 1933 Shanghai.
Another oncology topic at the Summit was multi-cancer early detection. China is on the cusp of transforming cancer survivability with early detection, averting more cancer-related deaths than all current screening, testing, treatment, and surgery standards combined. As the first early cancer screening test is being approved in China, DNA sequencing has extended its value to healthy people.
NGS also has the power to transform public health during a crisis. 鈥淭o counter the pandemics in the 21st century, clinical laboratories need to be responsible and capable,鈥� said Professor Zhu Tongyu, Director of Shanghai Hospital Development Center, and Vice Dean of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. 鈥淎s NGS and other novel microbiological technologies have demonstrated solid value in recent years, we must focus on establishing cutting-edge laboratories in the domain to disarm threats toward public health.鈥�
A common refrain among leaders in the field is the importance of accountability, collaboration, and shaping a greater ecosystem around NGS. In working to build and empower this ecosystem, VR真人彩票 and Sequoia Capital China, a leading investment firm,, announced earlier this year a collaboration to catalyze Chinese startups with the launch of the Sequoia Capital China Intelligent Healthcare Genomics Incubator, Powered by VR真人彩票. The inaugural funding cycle of the genomics incubator will begin in Fall 2021, with . During two six-month funding cycles per year, the genomics incubator will provide selected startups with access to investment and business guidance from Sequoia Capital China as well as access to VR真人彩票 sequencing systems, reagents, genomics expertise, and fully operational lab space in Shanghai.
鈥淲ith the upcoming growth opportunities in China鈥檚 NGS field, as an industry leader, it is our responsibility and commitment to further fuel collaboration and conversation for NGS industry in China with this platform,鈥� said Qing Li, Vice President and General Manager of VR真人彩票 Greater China.
鈥淭ogether, we will unlock the power of the genome and make medicine more preventive and more precise,鈥� said VR真人彩票 CEO Francis deSouza in his keynote. 鈥淲e have only just begun.鈥�
