IVD China last week: Abbott, BioMérieux, Sansure and BGI

Abbott Diagnostics Announces Launch of Locally Manufactured Immunoassay Module Alinity i and Automated GLP Line in China

On October 9, 2024, in Hangzhou, Abbott, a global leader in healthcare, announced the official launch of its locally manufactured immunoassay module Alinity i and automated GLP line, marking a new chapter for the localized production of these intelligent solutions at Abbott Diagnostics' Hangzhou facility. With strong support from the Zhejiang provincial government, the Alinity i localization project progressed from initial approval to launch in just nine months. This project also became the first local production initiative for imported medical devices in Hangzhou.

The production facility in Hangzhou is one of Abbott's four factories in China and serves as the company's largest global base for the research, development, and production of immunochromatographic in vitro diagnostic reagents. The factory produces a wide range of products, supplying approximately 500 million tests annually to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Additionally, the Hangzhou factory has been recognized as a Zhejiang Provincial Enterprise Technology Center, highlighting its comprehensive strengths in operational management, production quality, and innovative research and development.

The BioMérieux R&D Innovation Incubation Center (Suzhou) Officially Launched

On September 26, the unveiling ceremony for the BioMérieux R&D Innovation Incubation Center (Suzhou) and the inauguration ceremony for Changguang Huayi's new factory took place as scheduled at the new factory in Suzhou High-Tech Zone. 

Following the unveiling ceremony of the BioMérieux R&D Innovation Incubation Center (Suzhou), the center will leverage BioMérieux's global influence to focus on key areas such as global medical innovation technologies, domestic substitution for imports, and iterative innovation. By integrating Suzhou's well-established biopharmaceutical industrial chain and talent pool, the center aims to drive research and development of new products and incubate new projects. It will foster the growth of more high-potential technology enterprises and promote the development of upstream and downstream sectors of the industrial chain. In the future, the two parties will continue working together to advance innovation in China's in vitro diagnostics industry, realizing the long-term vision of "In China, For China, Growing with China."

36 Experts from 13 African Countries Visit Sansure 

A delegation of 36 experts from disease control centers, ministries of health, and medical institutions across 13 African countries visited Sansure to discuss and exchange insights on key topics of interest to African nations, such as the prevention and control of major infectious diseases, public health system development, and livelihood health projects.

Against the backdrop of China-Africa relations being elevated to a new era of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future, Africa is not only a good partner of China but also one of Sansure's key regions of collaboration. Sansure has established trade and cooperation with nearly 50 African countries and regions, including Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, Gabon, Togo, Benin, and Ethiopia. These collaborations include national aid projects for Africa, WHO-related projects, and UN-related projects, focusing on providing precise diagnostic solutions for the prevention and control of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and tuberculosis, contributing to improving disease diagnosis and control in Africa. In the future, Sansure will further strengthen cooperation with healthcare sectors in Africa and other regions, actively promoting the building of a China-Africa Health Community.

BGI Genomics and Varian Medical Announce Partnership

On September 27, 2024, Varian Medical Systems, a global leader in cancer treatment solutions, and BGI, a leading company in genetic testing, announced the joint establishment of the "Varian-BGI Precision Medicine Joint Laboratory" in Beijing.

Dr. Xiao Zhang, Senior Vice President of Varian Medical Systems and President of Greater China, along with Dr. Shida Zhu, Vice General Manager of BGI and Executive Director of the BGI Zhihui Medical Research Institute, unveiled the laboratory, marking the official launch of their collaboration. The two companies will engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as precision radiotherapy for tumors, molecular residual disease (MRD) monitoring, multi-omics spatial and temporal studies, and tumor prevention and control. They are aimed to innovate and explore solutions for precision radiotherapy and recurrence management, providing patients with more accurate and personalized medical services, and unlocking the full potential of precision radiotherapy in cancer treatment.