KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 17): Sime Darby Bhd’s healthcare unit with Ramsay Healthcare, Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare (RSDH), will be offering Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), the Ion Torrent Genexus Integrated Sequencer at Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC).
In a statement, RSDH said SJMC had collaborated with Pfizer and AstraZeneca to launch a subsidised patient access programme, Nexus 2.0. Under this programme, patients with advanced lung cancer can benefit from rapid comprehensive genetic NGS profiling of their cancers at substantially reduced costs.
Rapid NGS results can be delivered within one to three days, from two to three weeks previously. Patients can gain access to individualised targeted treatments for their respective cancers.
RSDH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Greg Brown said the healthcare provider is continuously exploring ways to improve and optimise cancer treatments.
“This revolutionary technology and the subsidised patient access programme at SJMC will alter the landscape of how advanced stage lung cancer is managed,” Brown said.
Meanwhile SJMC Consultant Pathologies and Laboratory Director Prof Dr Pathmanathan Rajadurai pointed out that most lung cancer patients are diagnosed at the advanced stages of the disease.
“The acquisition and deployment of this new technological platform in our facility substantially shortens the time from diagnosis to commencement of targeted treatment, which is extremely critical in the management of lung cancer, an otherwise fatal disease,” said Pathmanathan.
AstraZeneca Malaysia Country President Dr Sanjeev Panchal said that it was committed to alleviating the burden of lung cancer patients and improving patient access to new technologies which can help combat the disease.
“As patients are at the heart of everything we do, our aim is to help those with financial constraints to gain access to advanced technologies to treat their cancer promptly and with precision,” said Sanjeev.
Shares in Sime Darby finished 0.41% or a sen lower at RM2.42, valuing it at RM16.46 billion.