Welgene Biotech offers Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy and tissue biopsy next-generation sequencing tests for patients with cancer in Taiwan  

November 4, 2024

TAIWAN – Welgene Biotech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Welgene Biotech, stock code: 6661) announced that it has been appointed the new exclusive distributor in Taiwan of liquid biopsy and tissue biopsy next-generation sequencing tests offered by Guardant Health (hereinafter referred to as Guardant Health, Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company. Welgene Biotech will offer Guardant Health’s portfolio of tests for monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer, which not only allows Guardant Health to cater to the needs of the oncology field in Taiwan, but also highlights the professional services and high-quality diagnostics technology offered by Welgene Biotech. 

Guardant Health offers best-in-class liquid biopsy next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology which can detect cancer-related gene mutations through blood samples. This largely reduces the risks and complications of invasive and traditional tissue sampling and helps medical oncologists to select optimal targeted treatment strategies for patients with cancer. This personalised treatment option may help to improve patient outcomes.  

Guardant Health chose Welgene Biotech as its new distributor in Taiwan based on Welgene Biotech’s expertise in precision medicine and in-depth knowledge of cancer diagnostic technology. With its well-proven business network and strong technical support capability, Welgene Biotech plans to increase the use of Guardant Health’s portfolio of tests which can transform cancer care in Taiwan. Both parties will work together to strengthen oncology services in Taiwan, ensuring that every patient can have access to quick and accurate comprehensive genomic profiling tests which can match patients to appropriate precision medicines. 

Dr. Lin Yi-Shing, General Manager of Welgene Biotech, who is fully confident of future developments in this partnership said, “Guardant Health’s appointment of Welgene Biotech as its new distributor in Taiwan is an important milestone for Welgene Biotech. We will make every effort to promote the application of this next-generation sequencing technology in Taiwan, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, so as to provide patients with advanced comprehensive genomic profiling tests, bringing new hope to cancer treatment in Taiwan, and we look forward to seeing more patients benefit from this.” Welgene Biotech plans to actively cooperate with major medical institutions in Taiwan, so that more patients can have access to the benefits of precision oncology. With the promotion of liquid biopsy technology, Taiwan will become one of the priority markets for the development of precision medicine in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is expected to play a greater role in improving the quality of cancer treatment regionally. 

Welgene Biotech and Guardant Health will strictly abide by the relevant specifications related to the regulations governing the application and use of specific medical techniques or examinations, or medical devices (Regulations of Special Medical Techniques), and ensure that all cancer diagnostic services and tests which are offered in clinical practice meet the requirements of Taiwan’s regulations. This should further strengthen patients’ and medical professionals’ trust in Guardant’s technology. 

About Welgene Biotech 

Welgene Biotech was established in 2003, mainly providing the services of gene chip detection, gene sequencing, and gene detection. The scope covers two major categories – scientific research gene detection (including basic research and medical research) and clinical application gene detection (LDTS certification project: whole chromosome microarray chip detection, embryo preimplantation chromosome detection, non-invasive prenatal chromosome detection, EndoPredict breast cancer recurrence/metastasis risk assessment detection, and exon sequencing application to ACMG SF gene detection). Gene detection technology is combined with agency products to provide complete integrated gene detection solutions required by customers, and we assist customers in building detection platforms, maintain long-term relationships with our customers through technical support and agency sales, establish market segmentation, and create company value.