HONG Seng Consolidated Bhd can now partake the next stage of the battle against COVID-19 by utilising its experience in the field of medical diagnostic and research to help curb the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 virus.
This follows the inking of a laboratory services agreement between its medical diagnostic and research laboratory Neogenix Laboratoire Sdn Bhd with RZAC Immunesafe Sdn Bhd and Aster Technologies Sdn Bhd.
Neogenix Lab, a 60% owned subsidiary of HS Bio Sdn Bhd which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Seng, is mainly involved in the provision of laboratory services, medical diagnostic laboratory testing and analytical services.
Meanwhile, RZAC is the authorised distributor of the ImmuSAFE COVID+ Biochip and has been working with the Malaysian Government through the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) to commercialise the said biochip.
On the other hand, Aster is a company involved in the retail of ImmuSAFE COVID+ Biochip as well as the provision of medical logistic services.
Pursuant to the agreement, Neogenix Lab is licensed to provide its services to RZAC and Aster for ImmuSAFE COVID+ Biochip laboratory testing, whereas Aster is to provide its services to RZAC for logistic service for the collection and delivery of test samples.
“Neogenix Lab recognises the importance of antibody testing to assist people in making informed clinical decisions about their health, and help verify the effectiveness of vaccine protection,” commented Neogenix Lab managing director Dr Kuan Chee Sian.
With the increase in vaccination across the population, the vital information and testing that is required will be neutralising antibody testing. Essentially this means to check the body’s response to vaccination and to see if sufficient protective antibody is triggered in the body system.
“This is because the vaccines in the market are novel and are still being rigorously tested and improved,” Kuan pointed out. “As every individual’s body and immune system is different, this next stage of testing will be vital for the re-opening of the economy, borders, travel, etc.”
ImmuSAFE COVID+ Biochip is a lab-based test kit which test results offer information on risk factors of infectiousness and presence of protective antibodies against COVID-19 in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
This means information of prior infections and immunity from COVID-19 can be known to an individual from the ImmuSAFE test results.
With the goal to achieve herd immunity, neutralising antibody testing will be vital to gauge this goal and it is expected that the Government will require a reasonable number of the population to be screened to study our progress to achieve herd immunity.
At 11.26am, Hong Seng was up 3.5 sen or 3.85% to 94.5 sen with 13.2 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM2.22 bil. – July 6, 2021
