Genetron Health's Liu Yan Highlights Strategic Opportunities in Comprehensive Oncology Care Lifecycle
Personalized medicine has two core pillars: innovative drugs and precision diagnostic technologies represented by genetic testing; both are indispensable.
In the era of personalized medicine, drug development and usage have become deeply integrated with genetic testing technologies. Genetic testing helps identify therapeutic targets, thereby enhancing the efficiency and success rate of drug R&D. Meanwhile, the importance of companion diagnostics accompanying pharmaceutical products has been widely recognized. Collaborative R&D models between pharmaceutical companies—whether large established firms or emerging biotech enterprises—and genetic testing companies are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Pharmaceutical companies and genetic testing firms are engaging in increasingly close collaboration, with a growing number of pharmaceutical professionals entering the genetic testing sector.
Recently, Liu Yan, former Vice President of BeiGene, joined Genetron Holdings as Chief Commercial Officer, where he is responsible for the company’s oncology diagnostics and pharmaceutical partnership businesses. With over 25 years of extensive experience in the healthcare industry, Liu has previously held positions at global top-tier pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda, Roche, and BeiGene. He has led the successful launch of multiple blockbuster products and possesses profound expertise in oncology product promotion and team management.
Liu Yan, Chief Commercial Officer of Genetron Holdings Limited
What prompted this seasoned pharmaceutical industry veteran, with a proven track record of achievements, to venture into the field of oncology genetic testing? What new opportunities exist within the industry? Recently, VCBeat held a dialogue with Liu Yan to gain insights into the development trends and methodologies in the oncology genetic testing sector.
During this interview, Genetron Holdings Limited announced that it had received a privatization proposal. As is well known, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has included more than half of Chinese concept stocks on its “pre-delist” list under the U.S. Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Amid heightened uncertainty, an increasing number of Chinese concept stocks may choose this path to ensure their long-term development. Ms. Liu Yan’s interview also provides indirect insight into the recognition by a seasoned industry professional with a background in foreign pharmaceutical companies of Genetron’s commitment to long-term growth, focus, and flexibility.
After nearly a decade of rapid growth, China’s oncology genetic testing industry is entering a phase of in-depth development. Industry experts predict that the domestic genetic testing sector will enter an explosive growth period within the next two to three years. Favorable policies and a maturing industrial chain are among the key drivers poised to bring disruptive changes to the oncology genetic testing industry. However, amid uncertainties stemming from the international landscape and the pandemic, these favorable developments will inevitably require companies to possess the agility to pivot strategically and the focus to concentrate on their core competencies.
Liu Yan believes that a key manifestation of focusing on core business operations is an enterprise’s emphasis on “cost reduction and efficiency enhancement” to improve organizational effectiveness. This will also be the major trend in the oncology genetic testing industry. After joining Genetron Holdings Limited, she observed the company’s capabilities in this regard—persistently asking “why,” adopting a strategy of “careful planning before action,” and ensuring “rapid execution once decisions are made” are distinct characteristics of the organization. Furthermore, in the face of a volatile external environment, she noted that Genetron’s decision-making and execution capabilities were unlike anything she had experienced at previous companies. She also stated that as relevant drugs and medical devices are included in national medical insurance coverage and centralized procurement programs, the accessibility and affordability of the industry will significantly improve. Coupled with continuous technological optimization across the pre-, intra-, and post-diagnostic stages of oncology care, which drives down costs, genetic diagnosis and treatment will become faster, more accurate, more accessible, and more effective, thereby substantially increasing the inclusiveness and penetration rate of oncology genetic testing.
However, as accessibility improves, industry entry barriers will also rise significantly, with technology, talent, products, application scenarios, and operational efficiency all being critical factors. As a leading enterprise, Genetron Holdings Limited inevitably faces greater expectations. In the future, Genetron needs to pursue horizontal integration across products and channels, as well as between testing and therapy, positioning itself as a value creator in the oncology genetic testing ecosystem and reshaping the market landscape.
According to Frost & Sullivan data, the market size of high-throughput genetic testing for cancer in China increased from RMB 1.2 billion in 2017 to RMB 4.1 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.96%. The market size is projected to reach RMB 5.8 billion in 2022.
In this vibrant market, companion diagnostics have gained widespread acceptance, early screening products have entered a critical phase of commercialization, and MRD is rapidly emerging as a new blue-ocean sector. Frost & Sullivan predicts that the market potential for early screening and diagnosis, along with MRD, will surpass that of medication guidance, becoming a new driving force in industry development.
Yet it is also evident that beneath the surface of this vibrant vitality,The oncology genetic testing market in 2022 became more sober, with industry practitioners, investors, and users growing more mature and rational.
In terms of business layout, companies are returning to the essence of commercialization, focusing on enhancing core competitiveness, with more solid and steady investments in technology and products. In investment, financing events are mainly in the mid-to-late stages, industry concentration is strengthening, and the growth of leading enterprises is accelerating further. At the terminal end, the clinical recognition and awareness of tumor gene testing have both increased, creating a more urgent demand for high-performance products.
Meanwhile, in 2022, under the impact of the pandemic, the industry also became more complex and volatile.Patient-centric, continuously building a full-lifecycle solution for tumor genetic testing is the major direction of industry development.
Genetron Holdings Limited focuses on a full-cycle, whole-industry-chain layout in precision oncology. In 2022, the company accelerated the progress of its full-cycle solutions for tumor genetic testing.
In the field of companion diagnostics, Genetron has become a high-quality partner for pharmaceutical companies., In February 2022, Genetron Holdings Limited and Hutchmed reached an agreement on Savolitinib®Companion Diagnostic Collaboration Agreement for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Based on Genetron’s Approved 8-Gene Lung Cancer Panel for Orpathys®companion diagnostic validation and registration. In June, the gene mutation and fusion detection product also obtained EU CE certification for FusionScan Plus, further accelerating its global expansion.
Early cancer screening is a significant growth driver for Genetron Holdings.On August 5, 2022, the headquarters base of Genetron’s Cancer Early Screening Center officially commenced operations. Covering a total area of over 10,000 square meters, the facility integrates functions including early screening R&D, product translation, pilot-scale incubation, and testing services. It aims to support national cancer prevention and control efforts as well as the “Rural Revitalization – Medical Assistance” demonstration project through cutting-edge cancer early screening services. In mid-August, Genetron’s HCCscreen technology for early hepatocellular carcinoma detection was included in the Guidelines for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening in the Chinese Population (2022, Beijing).
In the MRD business, in April 2022, Seq-MRD®Obtained EU CE certification. The solid tumor MRD product, co-developed with AstraZeneca, is also under development.
The key support for building a full-lifecycle solution lies in underlying general-purpose technologies.
Genetron’s proprietary Mutation Capsule technology requires only a small blood sample to simultaneously detect methylation and multiple types of genetic mutations, including SNVs, Indels, and CNVs, enabling multiple tests on a single sample without compromising sensitivity. This one-step approach overcomes the limitations of conventional NGS, such as complex procedures, lengthy workflows, and high sample volume requirements, while providing comprehensive variant detection, shorter turnaround times, and further ensuring testing accuracy.
Liu Yan’s firm belief that oncology genetic testing will remain a high-growth sector for the foreseeable future is what prompted his transition from the pharmaceutical industry to the field of genetic testing.
In the precision treatment of cancer patients, diagnostic technologies such as genetic testing serve as the initial step and permeate the entire cycle of disease diagnosis, therapeutic guidance, and recurrence monitoring. They play a pivotal role in multiple aspects, including early screening and diagnosis, differentiation between benign and malignant tumors, identification of driver genes, assessment of treatment efficacy, and prognosis evaluation.Guiding personalized diagnosis and treatment of patients based on genetic testing technologies has become the ideal approach in clinical oncology practice,The value delivered to patients is substantial.
Driven by policy incentives, technological innovations, and a continuous influx of talent, the field of oncology genetic testing will continue to maintain an upward trajectory. Liu Yan stated, “Among the pharmaceutical companies I have served, there are both century-old establishments and innovative biopharma firms. Generally, the development paths of pharmaceutical companies are relatively mature. AndTumor genetic testing is an emerging industry with greater challenges and opportunities, which prompted me to join Genetron Holdings Limited, an industry-leading enterprise, to explore the unknown and apply these advanced technologies in areas that benefit cancer patients and high-risk populations.“Here, Liu Yan highlighted Genetron’s ‘Sailor Spirit’ culture, in which every employee is a sailor with firm goals and a commitment to continuous evolution, working together in the same boat to chart unknown new frontiers.”
Currently, the clinical application potential of genetic testing technology is continuously expanding, gradually extending from tumor molecular subtyping and companion diagnostics to broader scenarios such as early screening and minimal residual disease (MRD) detection.Incorporating more innovative technologies, advancing multiple pipelines, and strategizing around the entire lifecycle of cancer care is one of Genetron Holdings Limited’s strategies.
Liu Yan’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with her in-depth understanding of the logic underlying oncology diagnosis and treatment, as well as her expertise in integrating “diagnosis” with “therapy,” enables her to better comprehend the application scenarios of genetic testing from a pharmaceutical perspective. This allows for precise strategic positioning of biomarkers for targeted and immunotherapies, thereby offering more practical strategic recommendations. Her profound insights into the companion diagnostic needs of pharmaceutical companies and the pain points in clinical diagnosis and treatment, along with her patient-centric perspective on the holistic benefits of integrated diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, will undoubtedly create unique synergies with Genetron Holdings Limited. This will provide strong momentum for Genetron’s next phase of product development and commercialization, helping the company further expand its full-cycle business layout.