The latest Business updates from the science industry


by Gwyneth Astles


Landmark collaboration to boost life sciences and healthcare in Thailand


wellness & biotech cluster, including a world-class oncology centre in the Thailand Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area. This initiative aligns closely with Thailand’s vision to become a leading medical hub in the region. Leveraging partnerships with renowned international entities, AMATA MEDITOWN aims to offer comprehensive, whole-value chain manufacturing and treatment solutions, starting from the area of oncology, ranging from a preventive approach to advanced diagnosis and treatment options, to increase accessibility for clinical trials.


AMATA Corporation PCL, together with Hotel Nikko AMATA City Chonburi, and VNU Asia Pacifi c, have announced a landmark collaboration aimed at advancing the fi elds of life sciences and healthcare in Thailand. The partnership, formalised today, seeks to bolster the country’s healthcare ecosystem and expand industry networks on both local and global fronts.


Central to this collaboration is the establishment of an international


In addition to the treatment part, AMATA MEDITOWN is set to pioneer Thailand’s fi rst physical biotech cluster. This innovative cluster will encompass a robust ecosystem designed to support biotechnology advancements, foster research and development, and attract global biotech investments to Thailand.


Health & Innovation Asia, in co-location with Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, Bio Asia Pacifi c, and FutureCHEM INTERNATIONAL, organised by VNU Asia Pacifi c, serves as an ideal venue for AMATA MEDITOWN to introduce its ambitious projects to a global audience.


These events will provide a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders interested in advancing healthcare innovation.


On the same day, Hotel Nikko Amata City Chonburi also inked the service contract with VNU to host the international bio and medical conference at Hotel Nikko Amata before the Health & Innovation Asia main event to create publicity and insightful sharing sessions with global players and biomedical professionals.


Stay tuned for the fi rst Thailand LAB Roadshow in AMATA EEC Industrial Estate, Chonburi, Thailand. Save the date: 6 August 2024, at Hotel Nikko Amata City Chonburi, organised by VNU Asia Pacifi c. Register now to get the free entry ticket for Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL and Health & Innovation Asia 2024.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/B574 and ilmt.co/PL/KOE9 62918pr@reply-direct.com


CE-IVDR marked digital pathology solutions expand across APAC


Indica Labs, a leader in digital pathology solutions, announces the expansion of its reseller network across the Asia Pacifi c (APAC) region. The company has entered into distributorship agreements with key partners: MRL Cybertec Corporation in the Philippines, Pathology Ware International in Thailand, Minh Khang Technical Service & Trading Co. Ltd. in Vietnam, and Histocenter in Malaysia. These partnerships aim to expand distribution of Indica Labs’ HALO AP®, HALO®, HALO AI, HALO Link, and HALO Clinical Solutions throughout the region.


Steven Hashagen, CEO of Indica Labs, commented: “We are excited to extend our presence in the APAC region through partnerships with experienced resellers. Their established networks and expertise in digital pathology will ensure effective deployment and support of our products.”


The selected resellers bring a wealth of experience in digital pathology instrumentation and software strengthening Indica Labs’ ability to serve clinical needs and expand its customer base in APAC.


Eric Runde, COO at Indica Labs, added: “Following regulatory approvals in Europe and the USA, we are actively pursuing IVD registrations in APAC. We anticipate signifi cant adoption of our products in the region.”


Under the new agreements, APAC distributors will offer HALO AP®, a CE-IVDR marked enterprise digital pathology platform, alongside HALO Clinical AI Solutions. These solutions, including HALO Prostate AI, Lung PD-L1 AI, Breast IHC AI, and SlideQC BF, integrate seamlessly into HALO AP® for advanced image analysis and management in life sciences applications.


Maristel Abigail R. Lim from MRL Cybertec Corp stated: “As a long- standing distributor of histopathology solutions in the Philippines, we are thrilled to partner with Indica Labs. This collaboration will introduce their innovative AI technologies to enhance effi ciency and workfl ows in histopathology labs across our country.”


HALO AP® is CE-IVDR marked for in-vitro diagnostic use in Europe, the UK, and Switzerland, while HALO AI Prostate is CE-marked for similar use. Both are intended for research use only in the US and other regions.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/LLMD 62907pr@reply-direct.com


seekRNA: Advancing precision gene editing beyond CRISPR


Scientists at the University of Sydney have unveiled a gene-editing tool named seekRNA, which offers superior accuracy and fl exibility compared to the widely-used CRISPR technology. This new tool, developed by Dr Sandro Ataide and his team at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, utilises a programmable RNA strand to precisely target and relocate genetic sequences, thereby simplifying the editing process and minimising errors. Their research has been published in Nature Communications.


Dr Ataide highlights the transformative potential of seekRNA, emphasising its ability to deliver precise and fl exible target selection, thus heralding a new era in genetic engineering. Unlike CRISPR, which requires additional components to function as a ‘cut-and-paste’ tool, seekRNA operates as a standalone system, enhancing accuracy and broadening the range of DNA sequences it can modify.


Traditional CRISPR technology involves creating breaks in the DNA double helix and relies on other proteins or the cell’s DNA repair machinery to insert new sequences, often introducing errors. In contrast, seekRNA can cleanly cleave the target site and insert new DNA sequences without needing additional proteins, resulting in higher accuracy and fewer errors.


Since its inception over a decade ago, gene editing, particularly through CRISPR, has revolutionised research and applications across various fi elds. It has improved disease resistance in agriculture, expedited human disease detection, and contributed to advanced cancer treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. Despite these advances, Dr Ataide notes that the fi eld is still in its early stages, and


technology for complex eukaryotic cells found in humans.


One of seekRNA’s advantages is its compact size, consisting of a small protein of 350 amino acids and an RNA strand of 70 to 100 nucleotides. This allows it to be delivered effi ciently using biological nanoscale delivery vehicles like vesicles or lipid nanoparticles. Additionally, seekRNA can independently insert DNA sequences in desired locations, a capability that many current editing tools lack.


University of Sydney research associate Rezwan Siddiquee, lead author of the study, points out that current CRISPR technology has limitations on the size of genetic sequences it can introduce, which restricts its applications. In contrast, seekRNA’s small and effi cient system can move genetic cargo more effectively.


Caitlin McCormack (left) with research lead Dr Sandro Ataide and first author Rezwan Siddiquee (right) - C. Photo Fiona Wolf-USYD


seekRNA’s development aims to further propel health, agricultural, and biotechnological innovations.


SeekRNA is derived from the IS1111 and IS110 families of naturally occurring insertion sequences found in bacteria and archaea. These sequences exhibit high target specifi city, which seekRNA leverages to achieve its impressive accuracy. The tool can be modifi ed to target any genomic sequence and insert new DNA with precise orientation. Laboratory tests have shown promising results in bacteria, and future research will focus on adapting the


Globally, research teams are exploring the gene-editing potential of the IS1111 and IS110 families, but Dr Ataide’s team is at the forefront, having demonstrated results for a member of the IS110 family and advancing the technique with the shorter seekRNA. The University of Sydney’s pioneering work continues to drive innovation in gene editing, promising signifi cant advancements in the fi eld.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/6545


1. Siddiquee, R. et. al. ‘A programmable seekRNA guide target selection by IS1111 and IS110 type insertion sequences’. (Nature Communications) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49474-9


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