Genecast and MGI Forge Strategic Partnership to Co-Develop a China-led Solution for Multi-Cancer Early Detection

On March 27, 2023, Huirui Gene and MGI Tech signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will engage in comprehensive strategic collaboration focusing on the localization of sequencing platforms for core product pipelines across the entire cycle of precision cancer diagnosis and treatment, the introduction of automated platforms, and the regulatory registration and filing of products for early cancer screening and companion diagnostics. By leveraging independent technological innovation, they aim to jointly develop Chinese solutions for precision cancer diagnosis and treatment, with a particular emphasis on early cancer screening. Attendees at the signing ceremony included Zhou Jun, CEO of Huirui Gene; Zhu Hongbin, Vice President of Huirui Gene; Wu Jiayan, Dean of the Research Institute of Huirui Gene; Mou Feng, CEO of MGI Tech; and Jiang Hui, COO of MGI Tech.

 Mou Feng, CEO of MGI Tech, andZhou Jun, CEO of Huirui Gene, signed the agreement

Since the advent of precision medicine in cancer diagnosis and treatment, high-throughput sequencing technology platforms have been increasingly applied across all stages of comprehensive cancer management. In the field of cancer early screening—recognized as the most cost-effective approach for cancer prevention and control—the technological paradigm is evolving from multi-gene, multi-locus testing toward multi-omics, multi-dimensional detection. As leading enterprises in their respective domains of early screening technologies and sequencing equipment, Huirui Gene and MGI Tech have joined forces in this strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to further optimize and balance the performance, cost, and accessibility of cancer early screening products, addressing the bottlenecks in commercialization and adoption rates at a fundamental level. Through technological innovation, they are committed to advancing the Healthy China 2030 initiative, serving the public, and benefiting communities worldwide.

Zhou JunHe stated, “We eagerly anticipate the implementation of our strategic collaboration with MGI Tech, the pioneer and provider of domestic sequencing platforms. Helio Genomics has remained steadfast in its mission to ‘achieve early diagnosis and treatment for all cancers and ensure precision therapy for every patient.’ While maintaining a comprehensive molecular testing product pipeline covering the entire cancer care continuum, we have also completed numerous pioneering and groundbreaking initiatives in the field of cancer early screening, thereby accumulating extensive development experience and first-mover advantages. This partnership represents a full integration of world-leading technologies and platforms from each party, as well as a strong alliance between leading Chinese biotechnology enterprises. I believe this will trigger deeper, broader, and more sustained technological and product innovation in cancer early screening, promote the integrated development of the local biotechnology industry chain, accelerate the commercialization of high-tech achievements by Chinese enterprises, and jointly create a ‘Chinese solution’ for cancer early screening—delivering products and services that benefit the public and leveraging technology to benefit the world.”

Mu Feng“MGI Tech, as a provider of core tools for life sciences, has been committed to offering an open and collaborative ecosystem to downstream clinical and research users, delivering high-quality, advanced equipment platforms. Over the past six years, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of sequencing products covering high-, mid-, and low-throughput applications, reducing sequencing costs to below $100 and providing global users with an additional choice. We look forward to leveraging our respective strengths in partnership with Genetron Health to achieve win-win development and drive deeper and more comprehensive breakthroughs in the field of precision oncology. In the future, MGI Tech will continue to uphold foundational innovation and empower the precision medicine sector, contributing to the widespread accessibility of gene sequencing technology.”

As a national technology enterprise, Huirui Gene has actively undertaken the “13th Five-Year Plan” National Science and Technology Major Project. Leveraging liquid biopsy technology and high-throughput NGS sequencing platforms, combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms, it has developed HIFI, a self-iterating, universal underlying technical system for early cancer screening. This technical system is capable of identifying ultra-early warning biomarkers of cancer in cfDNA and possesses the capacity to detect multi-omics and multi-category biomarkers.

Leveraging its independently developed underlying general-purpose technology platform, HIFI, Ruihe Gene first launched “Laisining,” the world’s first clinical-grade early screening product for liver cancer validated by a prospective cohort study with follow-up of over 10,000 individuals.^®️”, and was incorporated into the “pyramid” model for early liver cancer screening recommended by the first Expert Consensus on Early Screening Strategies for Liver Cancer in China; subsequently, Huirui Gene launched “Quan Si Ning,” a multi-cancer early screening product capable of simultaneously screening for six high-risk, high-incidence cancers prevalent in China (lung cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer).^®️”, is currently the world’s first multi-cancer early screening product that employs cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based multidimensional whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology. Furthermore, as a novel early screening technology, HIFI has been recommended by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association’s Popular Science Guide for Cancer Screening: “It has demonstrated significant value in early screening for liver cancer and shows promising application prospects in early screening for multiple cancer types.”

Huirui Gene is a representative enterprise in the global oncology genetic testing industry and the cancer early screening sector. Upholding the mission of “achieving early diagnosis and treatment for all cancers and ensuring precise therapy for all patients,” it is committed to providing molecular testing products covering the entire course of oncology care for high-risk populations and patients, while collaborating with pharmaceutical companies and other upstream and downstream industry partners to explore innovative therapeutic approaches. Huirui Gene has obtained dual CAP accreditations (Beijing and Fuzhou) and established a three-center layout (laboratory, supercomputing, and R&D). Its product portfolio encompasses cancer genetic susceptibility testing, early screening, companion diagnostics, treatment efficacy assessment, and prognosis monitoring, serving over 900 hospitals across China and hundreds of thousands of cancer patients and high-risk individuals. In the field of cancer early screening, leveraging its proprietary HIFI technology platform, Huirui Gene pioneered large-scale prospective cohort studies for early liver cancer screening and achieved breakthrough research results in multi-cancer early detection, all of which have been commercialized to benefit the Chinese population.

Shenzhen MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “MGI Tech”), upholding the philosophy of “Innovative Intelligent Manufacturing Leading Life Sciences,” is committed to becoming a creator of core tools for life sciences. Focusing on the fields of life sciences and biotechnology, the company specializes in the research and development, production, and sales of instruments, equipment, reagents, and consumables. It provides real-time, comprehensive, and full-lifecycle life digitalization equipment and systems for industries such as precision medicine, precision agriculture, and precision health.

Founded in 2016, MGI Tech had 2,050 employees as of December 31, 2021, with R&D personnel accounting for approximately 35% of its workforce. Its business presence spans more than 80 countries and regions across six continents, serving over 1,300 cumulative users worldwide. The company has established research and development centers, manufacturing bases, and training and after-sales service centers in multiple countries and regions globally. MGI Tech is one of the few companies worldwide capable of independently developing and mass-producing clinical-grade high-throughput gene sequencers.