Effort in the breakthrough of Malaysia in Healthcare, recognised by the "Malaysian Book of Records"
By Precision Diagnostics
The Rise of Clinical Pharmacogenomics (PGx) in 2023
Officials from the Malaysian Congress of Records were invited to attend the event, which was hosted by Dr. Muruga Raj Rajathurai, President of the Commonwealth Medical Association and the Malaysian Medical Association; Mr. Lim Jack Shen, Vice President of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations and Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society; and Dr. Rebecca Tay, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Precision Diagnostics and Precision Diagnostics. The invited guests included Professor Dr. Tan Geok Chin, an anatomical pathologist, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Editor-in-Chief of the Malaysian Journal of Pathology; Professor Ts. Dr. Cheah Yoke Kqueen, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Putra Malaysia, a recipient of the Outstanding Scientist Award and a member of the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council, and a Biomedical Clinician Scientist at the Ministry of Health; Mr. Hoe Cheah How, Chief Executive Officer at Beacon Hospital; Dato’ Dr. Mohd. Ibrahim Wahid, Clinical Oncologist, Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beacon Hospital, who has also served as president of several prominent global oncology societies; Associate Professor Dr. Hoo Fan Kee, Neurologist and Chairman Advisor to the Malaysian Stroke Council; Dr. Tho Lye Mun, Clinical Oncologist and Vice Chairman of the Lung Cancer Network Malaysia; and Associate Professor Dr. Doreen Tan, Clinical and Pharmaceutical Practice at the National University of Singapore (who also participated the event virtually and remotely).
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an innovative fusion of pharmacology and genomics, which enhances the understanding of how genes affect an individual’s response to drugs. PGx is one of the emerging approaches in precision medicine, which reduces adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by selecting and adjusting drugs based on the patient’s genetic characteristics. ADRs are the main cause of hospitalization and one of the top six causes of death worldwide. Precision Diagnostics’ pioneering approach includes comprehensive whole-genome analysis covering more than 1,000 genes and more than 500 drug analyses. The reporting algorithm has been certified by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore and ISO13485 certified by the United Kingdom Accreditation Services, and the key is to provide key insights into how an individual’s genetic makeup affects their response to various drugs. It enables healthcare professionals to make informed, personalised drug choices, ultimately providing good improvements in patient treatment outcomes while minimising adverse reactions.
With this remarkable achievement, Beacon Precision Diagnostics CEO Dr. Rebecca Tay also facilitated the launch of the “NUS-BEACON Pharmacogenomics Awareness Survey”, a collaborative research project under the “Pharmacogenomics Implementation – Precision Medicine Initiative”. In this project, Dr. Rebecca serves as the principal investigator in collaboration with professors from the National University of Singapore to oversee and advise on the pharmacogenomics implementation program. Dr. Rebecca expressed her enthusiasm and vision for these milestones, “This recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records underscores our commitment to redefine healthcare innovation. Precision Diagnostics is firmly committed to leading the way to future cures as a center of excellence in pharmacogenomics, collaborating with several renowned universities locally and globally to make precision medicine accessible to everyone.”
Precision Diagnostics: Leading the Future of Pharmacogenomics
Precision Diagnostics (PD) is an award-winning provider of clinical and pathology services, based in hospitals. PRECISE Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing is clinically accredited to address Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) by covering approximately ~100,000 ADME markers, over 1,000+ genes, and more than 500+ commonly used drugs, including painkillers, cough mixtures, antibiotics, and medications for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more. This innovative testing is powered by an Algorithm Advancement accredited by NQA ISO13485 (UKAS), and is supported by visionary leadership and a renowned board of advisors.
Dr. Muruga Raj Rajathurai, President of the Commonwealth Medical Association and the Malaysian Medical Association, added: “The commitment to PGx reporting certification will enhance clinicians’ confidence in making informed, personalised and targeted treatment recommendations, with the aim of improving outcomes, reducing ADRs and length of hospital stays, and alleviating the nation’s healthcare economic burden.”
“I hope that Beacon can bridge the gap between Malaysia and the Commonwealth and reduce the gap in data sources between the two countries, especially in the context of Asian populations,” he said.
Professor Tan Geok Chin, Pathologist (Anatomical Pathology), Editor-in-Chief of the Malaysian Journal of Pathology and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation at UKM, stressed the significance of Beacon Precision Diagnostics’ breakthrough: “PGx transforms our role as pathologists from disease diagnosis to treatment optimisation.”
Precision Diagnostics’ achievements not only advance PGx, but also elevate Malaysia’s global position in healthcare innovation. By empowering clinicians to make data-driven decisions, the company is forging a path to a future of medicine where care is increasingly personalised and optimised based on each patient’s genetic makeup.
The year 2023 marks a pivotal moment for clinical pharmacogenomics. Landmark studies published in high-impact journals across Europe and the USA have demonstrated that Pharmacogenomics-Guided Therapy significantly reduces ADRs. Despite these advances, research within Asian communities remains limited. In response, Precision Diagnostics is proud to collaborate with the National University of Singapore (NUS), ranked 8th in the world by QS Rankings in 2024. Together, we are launching the “Implementation of Pharmacogenomics: A Precision Medicine Initiative” and the “NUS-Beacon Pharmacogenomics Survey” to address this gap and develop actionable plans for the Asian community.
Celebrating a Milestone with Distinguished Guests
- Doctor Muruga Raj Rajathurai, President of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)
- Mr Lim Jack Shen, Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Association (FAPA) and Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS)
- Associate Professor Doctor Doreen Tan (virtually), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Chief Pharmacist Office, Ministry of Health (Singapore)
Precision Diagnostics is revolutionising the field of Pharmacogenomics with its PRECISE Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing, which addresses Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) by analysing a vast array of genetic markers and commonly used drugs. With the support of visionary leadership and collaboration with top institutions like NUS, Precision Diagnostics is driving advancements in Pharmacogenomics research and implementation, particularly within the Asian community. This progress was celebrated at a recent award ceremony with distinguished guests, highlighting the potential for improved patient management and healthcare reform.
