KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd's unit Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) has teamed up with pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and Pfizer to launch a subsidised patient access programme called NEXUS 2.0.
Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care said under the initiative, patients with advanced lung cancer can benefit from rapid comprehensive genetic NGS profiling of their cancers at substantially reduced costs.
"The treatment of advanced stage lung cancer in the country is being revolutionised with the arrival of the most recent and advanced version of NGS, the Ion Torrent Genexus Integrated Sequencer at SJMC.
"With the availability of rapid NGS results delivered within one to three days unlike two to three weeks previously, patients can gain access to life-changing individualised, targeted treatment of their cancers," Ramsay Sime Darby group chief executive officer Greg Brown said.
Ramsey Sime Darby is a 50:50 joint venture between Sime Darby and Australia-based Ramsey Health Care.
Brown said the "revolutionary" technology and subsidised patient access programme at SJMC would alter the landscape of how advanced stage lung cancer is managed.
"As one of the leading healthcare providers, we are continuously exploring ways to improve how we meet and optimise the treatment of cancer patients," he added.
SJMC consultant pathologist and laboratory director Prof. Dr Pathmanathan Rajadurai said the discovery of specific genetic defects within lung cancer cells had allowed it to precisely target these cancer cells while sparing the patients normal cells, allowing SJMC to realise the promise of precision medicine.
Rajadurai said the acquisition and deployment of the new technological platform in its facility substantially shortened the time from diagnosis to commencement of targeted treatment, which is extremely critical in the management of lung cancer, an otherwise fatal disease.
AstraZeneca Malaysia country president Dr Sanjeev Panchal said the partnership would complement its corporate responsibility efforts to improve patients access and affordability to sustainable healthcare solutions for life-changing treatment and prevention.
"As patients are at the heart of everything we do, our aim is to help those with financial constraints to gain access to advanced technologies to treat their cancer promptly and with precision," Panchal added.
Pfizer country manager for Malaysia and Brunei Luksanawan Thangpaibool said the group's commitment to oncology had begun nearly two decades ago.
She added that Pfizer's extensive portfolio of cancer therapies continues to break boundaries in cancer care with comprehensive and innovative treatment options. Our purpose is clear – to deliver breakthroughs that change patient's lives.
"Pfizer also works hand-in-hand with the broader cancer community to support people with lung cancer, including metastatic disease. We are proud to be part of the NEXUS 2.0 patient access programme to support patients throughout their treatment journey, including financial needs so that we can put effective treatments in the hands of those who need it," she added.