Roche Diagnostics and Hongmei Diagnostics Launch Joint Innovation Lab for Precision Gastrointestinal Diagnostics in Shenzhen

(Shenzhen, October 14, 2019) – Today, Roche Diagnostics’ Life Science Division and Shenzhen Hongmed-Infagen Diagnostic Technology Co., Ltd., a biomedical manufacturing enterprise, jointly held the inauguration ceremony for the Roche Diagnostics–Hongmed-Infagen Joint Innovation Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment at the Shenzhen International Bio-Life Science Industrial Park in Dapeng New District, Shenzhen. Leveraging Roche Diagnostics’ advanced medical testing technologies and Hongmed-Infagen’s specialized diagnostic offerings for gastrointestinal diseases centered on Helicobacter pylori (HP), the laboratory aims to achieve personalized HP diagnosis and jointly build an innovative platform for “precision diagnosis and treatment of digestive tumors.”

Professor Barry Marshall, leader of the Hongmed-Infagen diagnostic team and recipient of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Dr. Richard Roberts, a new member of the team and recipient of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his outstanding contributions to nucleic acid research; Duan Xiaowei, Director of the Science and Technology Innovation and Economic Service Bureau of Dapeng New District, Shenzhen; Liu Feng, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Dapeng New District, Shenzhen; Wen Zhenkun, Director of the Science and Technology Department of Shenzhen University; Su Zhongmei, Director of the Life Sciences Division at Roche Diagnostics; Hou Zhibo, Chairman of Hongmed-Infagen; and other dignitaries jointly attended this event.

Strong Alliance Focus on Personalized Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) resides in the pyloric region of the human stomach and is one of the most common bacterial pathogens. H. pylori infection can cause gastrointestinal disorders such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric atrophy. It is a high-risk factor for gastric cancer and is closely associated with the development of other digestive system tumors, including esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Due to the lack of obvious clinical symptoms, patient awareness and attention to H. pylori infection remain low. Statistics show that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in China is as high as 50%, accompanied by issues such as non-standardized diagnosis and treatment, poor patient compliance, and increasingly severe antibiotic resistance. Notably, H. pylori is the most important controllable risk factor in gastric cancer prevention. Therefore, raising patient awareness, ensuring precise diagnosis, and implementing standardized treatment are key to eradicating H. pylori.

Hongmed-Infagen was co-founded in 2015 by Professor Barry Marshall, a distinguished expert in Helicobacter pylori (HP) research, along with multiple scientists from China and Australia. The company focuses on the research, development, and production of novel diagnostic products for gastrointestinal diseases. It offers specialized HP-related gastrointestinal diagnostic services to facilitate personalized HP diagnosis, address the issue of antibiotic resistance encountered in HP treatment in China, and ultimately achieve the eradication of HP.

2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineBarry MarshallProfessor

As a global leader in the in vitro diagnostics industry, Roche Diagnostics consistently adheres to its philosophy of “acting in the best interests of patients.” Through continuous innovation, it is committed to developing and providing innovative, cost-effective, timely, and reliable diagnostic technologies and solutions that span the entire disease continuum—from early detection and prevention to diagnosis and monitoring. These efforts empower healthcare professionals to enhance patient treatment outcomes, improve quality of life, and reduce societal healthcare costs.

At the unveiling ceremony, Ms. Su Zhongmei, Director of Roche Diagnostics’ Life Science Division, stated that through the joint establishment of this demonstration laboratory, Roche Diagnostics will provide molecular biology platforms and raw materials for diagnostic reagents to ensure rigorous quality control and professional diagnostic analysis. This initiative will help identify the specific Helicobacter pylori (HP) types infecting patients, assess the pathogenicity of strains and their antibiotic resistance profiles, and evaluate gene expression related to cancer susceptibility. These insights will serve as a basis for formulating personalized treatment plans, enabling precise HP therapy, avoiding antibiotic misuse during treatment, reducing the risk of adverse drug reactions, and improving treatment success rates. Ultimately, this approach aims to prevent gastrointestinal malignancies and benefit more patients in China.

Roche DiagnosticsMs. Su Zhongmei, Director of the Life Sciences Division 

Hou Zhibo, Chairman of Hongmed-Infagen, stated that Roche Diagnostics, as a global leader in personalized medicine, holds advantages in technology, brand, and scale. This collaboration will continuously expand Hongmed-Infagen’s portfolio of high-precision, technologically advanced medical products and services for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. In the future, both parties will continue to leverage their respective strengths to jointly launch high-quality HP personalized diagnostic products and services that meet clinical needs, building an innovative platform for the precision diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract tumors. This initiative is certain to enhance Chinese patients’ awareness and attention toward HP, thereby facilitating early prevention, precise diagnosis, and standardized treatment of digestive tract tumors.

Hongmed-InfagenChairman Hou Zhibo