Singapore, Philippines spearhead medtech across SEA

The Lion City’s Diagnostics Development hub has delivered 400 technologies and four products since 2014.

Singapore and the Philippines are co-leading an ASEAN initiative that aims to commercialise medical diagnostic technologies across the region, according to a press release.

The Diagnostics Development (DxD) Initiative, endorsed in 2018, leverages the Lion City’s Diagnostics Development Hub as well as the Philippines’ ASEAN Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines and Traditional Medicines Innovation platform.

Since its launch in 2014, Singapore’s DxD hub has evaluated over 400 technologies and delivered nine products to local companies including cancer diagnostic tests and immunotherapy drugs.

A Strategic Planning Panel composed of experts and stakeholders from ASEAN member states are reviewing projects aimed at addressing diseases such as dengue and tuberculosis.

Ministers from the member states visited the Singapore hub last Friday to learn how it coordinates with the scientific and clinical communities to address unmet medical needs.