2019-01-28

SOFIVA GENOMICS Succeeds in Overseas Expansion and Establishes First Overseas Subsidiary in Bangkok, Thailand

   Genetic testing has become the focus of global medical progress. SOFIVA GENOMICS (6615) holds a leading position in Taiwan, works with top international firms, and possesses core technologies as well as comprehensive gene databases. For genetic testing services, SOFIVA offers prenatal screening, neonatal screening, personalized genetic testing, and cancer gene screening.  SOFIVA has also successfully expanded overseas. In January of 2019, SOFIVA established its first overseas subsidiary in Bangkok, Thailand, and set up a genetic testing laboratory to develop the local market.

 
 The CEO of SOFIVA GENOMICS, Dr. Yi-Ning Su, M.D./Ph.D. stated, “SOFIVA possesses key analysis technologies and autonomous R&D power. At the same time, by collaborating with international firms, we have developed the next generation of analysis systems. While many companies send their specimens to countries outside of Taiwan for testing, SOFIVA has been able to transfer proprietary technologies from Taiwan to other counties.” Previously, SOFIVA’s overseas strategy involved sending specimens back to Taiwan. Now, SOFIVA is gradually establishing local laboratories to develop local markets. Thailand is the first overseas base; the next step involves actively expanding the Southeast Asian market.

 SOFIVA’s General Manager, Dr. Chia-Cheng Hong, Ph.D. said, “Our Bangkok subsidiary offers SOFIVA Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening v1.0, v2.0, and v3.0 as well as SOFIVA Array v1.0, v2.0, and v3.0 for the prenatal testing market. In Thailand, various genetic carrier tests are also available, such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) screening and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) screening, performed in accordance with guidelines developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). SOFIVA also provides a rapid screening platform that can test for common genetic disorders such as Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), Angelman Syndrome (AS), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and Hemophilia (HA).”

  Providing liquid biopsy testing for cancer is one of the goals at SOFIVA GENOMICS Bangkok Co., Ltd. In the future, such tests will be available in Thailand, including SOFIVA Monitor+, SOFIVA Drug+, SOFIVA Monitor, SOFIVA Cancer Screening, and SOFIVA Scan. With a small blood sample of 10-20 ml, theses liquid biopsy tests can detect cancer up to 188 days earlier than conventional methods such as imaging techniques, thereby helping the physician better select the appropriate treatment. In addition, non-cancer patients are able to learn whether they have cancer-related genes.

 General Manager Dr. Chia-Cheng Hong, Ph.D. further noted that, “Bangkok occupies a central location in Southeast Asia. From Bangkok, we can access the local market in Thailand and even potential markets in Southeast Asia. For example, we can develop the market and make exchanges with nearby Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia and hopefully develop a large genetic testing market in the future.”