Spearheading Diagnostic Innovation with the World’s Most Comprehensive Diagnostic System
10 August 2022, Hong Kong – Emerging Viral Diagnostics (EVDL), a Hong Kong homegrown start-up specializing in diagnostics technologies applicable for a wide range of infectious respiratory diseases, announced today its strategic partnership with Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group (SBG), coinciding with the Grand Opening of its manufacturing site at the MARS Centre (Medical Accessory Resilience Supplies Manufacturing Centre), which is established in Taipo INNOPARK by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). Supported by the partnership, the world’s most comprehensive diagnostic system developed by EVDL (the EVDL system) will enter official clinical trials and product registration in Mainland China. To address the world’s most pressing medical needs, the system is a powerful solution for infectious disease control which can detect more than 40 pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox, with a single test in around an hour, representing a major breakthrough in diagnostics innovation.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the demand for effective and comprehensive detection systems for emerging viruses and bacteria, while both EVDL and SBG regard diagnostic technologies as a powerful tool against infectious diseases. SBG, a Joint Venture between China Resources Life Sciences Corporation and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, will provide financial support while backing the clinical trial with its expertise and extensive network in China, paving the way for commercialization success of the EVDL system in the near future.
The EVDL system significantly enhances the reliability of test results while bringing about substantial cost-saving, making it easier for wide adoption in the market. The platform technologies also allow for multiple applications, spanning from infectious diseases, cancer, genomics, to food safety and environmental testing, and other novel applications.
“Transforming successful research deliverables into a qualified medical product is never easy. Our partnership with Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group will undoubtedly solidify the foundation of EVDL system’s commercialization journey and represent an important milestone for EVDL. Leveraging SBG’s know-how in Mainland China’s medical sector, EVDL is excited to contribute to the diagnostics industry with our platform technologies, with the goal of serving millions of patients under global health threats,” said Dr. Manson Fok, Co-Founder and Chairman of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited.
“It is no doubt that EVDL has made an important breakthrough in diagnostic technology. We are very glad to be their partner to help commercializing the system in the mainland. We believe EVDL can greatly benefit our people through their innovative system.” said Mr. Wu Cheng Jin, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and Deputy General Manager of China Resources Life Sciences.
At the same time, EVDL celebrates the opening of its reagent manufacturing site in Tai Po INNOPARK. Together with the device production site which recently obtained ISO 13485 accreditation, EVDL possesses the necessary manufacturing capabilities to support the upcoming clinical trials.
“HKSTP has repositioned the three industrial estates in Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O as INNOPARKs. The MARS Centre launched in 2021 and innofacturers have gradually moved in this year. We are delighted to witness EVDL’s grand opening at MARS, as the first batch of tech ventures to use the ISO-certified cleanroom facility for the production of reagents and micro-fluidic cartridges, and its collaboration with Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group to further achieve the vision of innovated, designed and made in Hong Kong. HKSTP will continue to incubate more advanced tech ventures alike EVDL, contributing to Hong Kong’s sustainable development and economic growth by Innofacturing,” said Dr. Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP.
“We are so thrilled to see the inauguration of our advanced reagent manufacturing site in Hong Kong. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation for their support to establish this high-quality cleanroom facility . We are also grateful to the Innovation and Technology Commission for their funding supports, as well as to the collaboration with the Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, led by Professor Kwok-Yung Yuen,” expressed Dr. Terence Lau, Co-Founder and President of EVDL.
With the support of the Public Sector Trial Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund, the EVDL system has been under stringent evaluation since 2020 through Professor Yuen and other medical facilities. The EVDL team is optimistically looking forward to successful clinical trials with the high-quality performance exhibited by the system.
Originated by the Emerging Viral Diagnostic Limited and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University with the support from The University of Hong Kong, the EVDL system is now translated into a medical technology breakthrough. The collaboration has demonstrated a concerted effort in multidisciplinary innovation and research translation, forging ahead industrialization of advanced biotechnology in the Greater Bay Area.
Photo 1: Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited establishes strategic partnership with the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group to launch its clinical trial in mainland China. The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Terence Lau (first row, left), Co-Founder and President of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited, Dr. Manson Fok (first row, right), Co-Founder and Chairman of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited and Mr. Wu Cheng Jin (online), Deputy General Manager of Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and Deputy General Manager of China Resources Life Sciences.
Photo 2: Dr. Terence Lau (first left), Co-Founder and President of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited, Dr. Manson Fok (first right), Co-Founder and Chairman of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited and Mr. Wu Cheng Jin (online), Deputy General Manager of Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and Deputy General Manager of China Resources Life Sciences proposed a toast with the Guests of Honour, who endorsed the Ceremony (from second left): Prof. Kwok-yung Yuen, Chair of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong; Prof. Wing-tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Dr. Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP; Ms. Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Mr. the Hon Duncan Chiu, LegCo Member (Technology and Innovation); Prof. Ping-kong Wai, President and Vice Chancellor at Hong Kong Baptist University and Mr. Chen Ying, Assistant General Manager of China Resources Group.
Photo 4: Grand Opening of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited’s new manufacturing site at the Tai Po INNOPARK.
Photo 5: The EVDL system can simultaneously detect more than 40 pathogens causing respiratory tract infection with a single test, including SARS-2-CoV (COVID-19), in around an hour.
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About Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited
Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited (“EVDL”) is a Hong Kong homegrown start-up formed by a group of experienced scientists, and engineers having the vision in providing solutions to unmet medical needs. With a unique integration of the expertise of our multidisciplinary professionals, we are able to transfer our knowledge to innovative yet practical diagnostic solutions to the community. As part of the Avalon Biomedical (Management) Limited, a local biotechnology incubator, we aspire to become a worldwide leader in diagnostic industry.
About Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group
Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group (“SBG”) is a Joint Venture between China Resources Life Sciences Corporation and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, specializing in high-tech space biological industry. Directions of the group are to develop products and grow the industry using space environment. By leveraging rich knowledge and research output in space microbiology and space mutation breeding, a wide range of novel research and related commercialization work was launched. Through collaboration between research and industry, bio-pharmaceuticals, bio-health product and space agriculture and its downstream sectors can all be incubated and generating results in the group.
About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for 20 continuous years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that is home to three unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with over 11,000 research professionals and over 1,000 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.
Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth in Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of the Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern INNOPARKs in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three INNOPARKs are realizing a vision of re-industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry.
Through our infrastructure, services, expertise and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s international I&T hub status as a launchpad for global growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse.
More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org
