On July 18th, Dr. Chao Liu, CEO of Hemogen, Mr. Preecha Laohapongchana, Director of Xingtai Genetics, Dr. Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, and SuJie Cao, General Manager of BGI Southeast Asia (from left to right), attended and signed a four-party memorandum of understanding on improving the prevention and treatment of thalassemia and jointly conducting cellular and genetic therapy cooperation in the Mediterranean.
Thailand is a country with a high prevalence of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, and related hemoglobin diseases have become prominent issues in the country's public health sector. According to statistics, 30-40% of the Thai population carries thalassemia genes. These genes interact to produce more than 60 genotypes, with clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Based on estimates of gene frequencies and the number of newborns each year, approximately 1.2% of infants are born with severe thalassemia annually. Further estimates show that approximately 1% of the Thai population suffers from thalassemia, making it a major national health issue for Thailand.
According to the memorandum of cooperation, the four parties will establish a long-term strategic partnership and jointly focus on research on the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of thalassemia. In this collaboration, Hemogen will work closely with Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital to promote the implementation and application of thalassemia gene therapy in Thailand, benefiting local thalassemia patients. As an important institution in Thailand's medical field, Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital's rich clinical experience and medical research resources will provide valuable support and guidance for this collaboration.
Mahidol University, founded in 1888, is Thailand's oldest institution of higher education, formerly known as the Siriraj Royal Medical College. It is renowned in the fields of medicine, public health, and natural sciences. In 1969, it was named after Prince Mahidol of Songkhla who is known as the "Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health in Thailand". The university is a member of the World University Consortium.
Hemogen, a subsidiary of BGI Group, adheres to the vision of "gene technology benefiting humanity". Relying on the BGI Group’s influence of medical and health channel, it is committed to treating hemoglobin diseases and achieving the great goal of "No Thalassemia in the World." With two major gene editing platforms named lentiviral and CRISPR/Cas, more than 30 professional R&D personnel, 5 pipelines under research and a 1000-square-meter GMP production plant, Hemogen continues to focus on the research and application of gene therapy vectors and genetic engineering technology, with independent research and development capabilities and a sound quality management system. In the field of gene therapy for thalassemia, it has helped 6 β-thalassemia patients and 1 α-thalassemia patient free themselves from transfusions, with the first patient being transfusion-free for over 27 months.
We believe that the deep cooperation between Hemogen and Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital will open up new therapies and possibilities, not only attracting attention in the Thai medical community but also positively impacting the field of gene therapy globally. The joint efforts of both parties will help bring new hope and opportunities to improve the quality of life for thalassemia patients.
