NantHealth, a next-generation, evidence-based, personalized healthcare company, announced that it has entered into an agreement for GPS Cancer, a proteogenomic molecular test that helps guide treatment strategies including choice of standard chemotherapy for oncologists, with Asia Genomics, a provider and distributor of molecular testing services and key player in the field of personalized medicine in Southeast Asia.

It is estimated that there were over 770,000 new cases of cancer and 527,000 cancer deaths in the Southeast Asia region in 2012. By 2030, the number of new cases is expected to rise by 70%, reaching 1.3 million people. More than 75% of people with cancer in Southeast Asian countries experience death or financial catastrophe within a year of diagnosis. With little evidence available to articulate the economic impact of cancer on low and middle-income households, and its relationship to treatment and health outcomes, a profound lack of understanding surrounds the burden of the disease. 

“While cancer incidences continue to increase worldwide, GPS cancer is leading the evolution from a ‘one size fit all’ treatment approach to the era of proteogenomics and quantitative proteomics,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder and CEO of NantHealth. “Through the exclusive partnership with Asia Genomics, GPS cancer is offered for the first time in Southeast Asia. This is an important step in the global expansion of GPS cancer and we’re excited to be bringing a much needed alternative to transform the way that cancer is treated in this region.”

Unlike other tests on the market, GPS Cancer sequences the whole genome of 20,000+ genes and three billion base pairs and matches against the patient’s normal DNA, providing oncologists with an expansive view of alterations to inform personalized treatment strategies. GPS Cancer extends from genomics to proteomics not only through analysis of RNA, but also utilizes quantitative proteomics through mass spectrometry to measure the amounts of clinically relevant proteins that are the targets of or essential for various therapeutics. This clinically relevant information helps oncologists to better understand how patients may potentially respond to chemotherapies, targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Asia Genomics will distribute GPS Cancer to physicians in the following Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Asia Genomics is the first company to build comprehensive distribution channels in Southeast Asia for personalized medicine testing services. The company has also developed a broad network with government and regulatory entities, local oncology communities, hospitals, clinics and pathology labs, influencers, as well as research communities to advance local healthcare service offerings.

“GPS cancer is a revolutionary test that can help identify treatment options based on patients’ unique biology profile,” said Dr. Wong Mun Yew, CEO at Asia Genomics. “We’re looking forward to offering patients a new standard of care that will ultimately change the way we diagnose and treat cancer not only in Southeast Asia, but worldwide.”