Shanghai-based molecular diagnostic information provider OrigiMed, together with scientists from several Chinese hospitals, announced the results of a study on the genomic characteristics of Asian cancer populations — the largest comprehensive genome analysis from tumor tissues and matched blood specimens of its kind so far, offering significant implications for clinical decision-making of precision medicine in China.

Precision medicine is a complicated medical system integrating individualized medication and big data. The medication relies on technological innovation, but also has high requirements for participating policies and monitoring patterns.

The research team collected more than 10,000 samples from Asian cancer patients — covering over 100 cancer subtypes. Through Next Generation Sequencing technology, they worked out the comprehensive sequencing and comparative analysis of the tumor samples, expounded the different genomic characteristics of cancer patients between the East and West, and provided important basic evidence for China's precision medicine industry to be in line with international practice.

Currently, there are numerous large-scale genomics research on Western cancer patients. However, the genomics panorama of Asian cancer populations remained a blank. Therefore, OrigiMed's study, as the largest comprehensive genome analysis of its kind so far, filled in the blank of the sector.

For the first time, the study found that 64 percent of Chinese cancer patients had a clinically druggable gene mutation. Taking the 4 million new cancer patients in the country every year into account, every year, more than 2.5 million Chinese cancer patients can take symptomatic drugs through genetic testing, choose suitable targeted drugs or immune drugs, prolong their survival period and obtain a higher quality of life.

In the future, based on advanced technology and real-world data, OrigiMed is committed to providing comprehensive and accurate molecular-level information for each patient, assisting doctors in precise treatment, helping build the ecosystem of precision medicine in China and contributing to the "Healthy China 2030" goal, the company said.