Reported by Huang Wen-Chi

The Precision Medicine & Molecular Diagnostics Industry Association in Taiwan (hereafter the MDx) was formally established on April 10.  The Association consists of about 100 biopharmaceutical companies in Taiwan.  Dr Lee JohnSee, the chairman of the preparatory committee of the MDx, stated that the global output of the precision medicine and molecular diagnostic industry is estimated to reach US$134 billion in 2025, signalling a new ear for the industry.

The inauguration conference was conducted by Dr Lee JohnSee.  Many government officials and heavyweights of the healthcare industry attended the conference, including Dr Chen Shih-Chung (MOHW Minister), Ho Mei-Yueh (a national policy advisor), Dr Chang Hong-Jen (TRPMA President), Dr Kwok Pui-Yan (Director of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica), etc.

According to Dr Lee JohnSee, over 100 biopharmaceutical companies had expressed their interest in joining the association at the preparatory stage.  The MDx is the third industrial association in Taiwan, after Taiwan Bio and TRPMA, focusing on the innovative biomedical field.

In his speech in the conference, Dr Lee stated that 60% of the phase III clinical trials approved by the US FDA were about precision medicine and molecular diagnostics.  The industry’s output keeps growing.  The products include disease testing, medical big data, companion diagnostics, gene therapies, etc. 

Dr Lee expressed that the precision medicine and molecular diagnostic have developed from academic research stage to a new phase of industrial applications. The industry should now focus on standardization and scaling-up the production.  The MDx’s mission is to dock academic researches to industry. 

Dr Chen Shih-Chung, MOHW Minister, said in his speech that the government has the obligation to serve the industries and to refine the regulatory framework so as to create a sound regulatory environment for the industry to thrive.  The MOHW is committed to providing 100% support for the industry.  Taiwan must have a crucial place in this global competition, said the MOHW Minister.

【 2018-04-10/ Economic Daily】