Emerging Infectious Diseases in Thailand Highlight Need for Advanced Diagnostic Solutions
Distribution Agreement between Micronbrane Medical and Vishuo Biomedical (Thailand) LTD brings metagenomic technology to the country for rapid detection and response to infectious diseases outbreaks and multidrug-resistant organisms.
ZHUBEI CITY, TAIWAN, September 12, 2024 — Micronbrane Medical, a pioneering force in Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS), today announced a distribution agreement with Vishuo Biomedical (Thailand) LTD (Vishuo). The collaboration addresses the urgent need for comprehensive infectious disease diagnostics in the country by providing researchers and healthcare facilities with advanced mNGS solutions.
Thailand, like many countries in Southeast Asia, faces significant challenges with infectious diseases, including emerging pathogens and drug-resistant strains. Conventional diagnostic methods fall short in identifying the full spectrum of pathogens, resulting in delayed or inadequate treatment. mNGS technology allows for the unbiased sequencing of all genetic material in a biological sample, providing a more thorough and accurate method for detecting viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites from a single test.
By partnering with Vishuo, Micronbrane Medical will introduce its suite of mNGS products—from sample collection to bioinformatic analysis—to research institutions, hospitals, and diagnostic labs across the country. The complete mNGS assay called Pathogen Real-Time Identification by Sequencing (PaRTI-Seq™) enhances the sensitivity and specificity of mNGS, making it a cost-effective and powerful modality for identifying pathogens quickly and accurately.
“Thailand’s unique epidemiological landscape makes it imperative to transition to mNGS for rapid and comprehensive pathogen detection,” said Dr. Mengchu Wu, CEO, co-founder, and chairwoman of Micronbrane Medical. “Vishuo’s extensive experience makes this collaboration a significant step in our efforts to manage infectious disease outbreaks across Southeast Asia and beyond.”
The need for advanced diagnostics is particularly acute in Thailand, a country that serves as a regional hub for travel and trade and is highly vulnerable to the rapid spread of infectious diseases. Integrating mNGS into routine diagnostics will enable healthcare providers to simultaneously identify known pathogens plus novel and rare infectious agents. Furthermore, mNGS plays a crucial role in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring, which is increasingly critical in both clinical and public health contexts.
“We are thrilled to distribute Micronbrane Medical’s mNGS products, which are crucial for increasing the speed and accuracy of pathogen detection,” said Sarawut Wongphayak, Manager of Vishuo Biomedical (Thailand) Ltd. “With our deep understanding of the Thai healthcare landscape and the addition of PaRTI-Seq, we believe we can make a meaningful impact on healthcare in our country.”
The partnership aims to strengthen research and diagnostic capabilities, support public health initiatives, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes across the region.
About Micronbrane Medical
At Micronbrane Medical, our mission is to develop genomic innovations that enrich our understanding of microorganisms to benefit human health and sustainability. The company’s proprietary technologies include specialized collection devices, novel host depletion,mNGS-grade reagents and consumables, advanced metagenomic sequencing assays, leading-edge automation instruments plus rapid bioinformatic analysis software. The combined Micronbrane Medical solution enables fast and accurate identification and monitoring of a broad range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Headquartered in Taiwan, the company has partnerships and collaborations with leading academic institutions, health systems, and clinical laboratories worldwide, underscoring its commitment to transforming our relationship with microorganisms. For more information visit Micronbrane Medical.
For media inquiries – Kristi Ashton (kristi.ashton@micronbrane.com)
About Vishuo Biomedical (Thailand) LTD
Established in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore, Vishuo Biomedical (Thailand) LTD is one of the first providers of complete solution for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) solutions and bioinformatics in Thailand and is now a leading provider of genomic products, data analytics, and AI-driven solutions in precision medicine. The company’s iCMDB platform – certified by ISO 13485:2003, and classified as a Class A medical device by Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) – has been applied to multiple tier-one hospitals in Singapore, China, Thailand and USA. The company is committed to advancing genomic research and integrating cutting-edge technologies into the Thai healthcare ecosystem. It provides a wide range of leading-edge solutions to facilitate clinical and research projects across multiple aspects of genomics and discovery encompassing all fields of life science. Contact us for more information.
For media inquiries – Sarawut Wongphayak (sarawut@vishuo.com)