Emerging Viral Diagnostics Establishes Strategic Partnership with Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group to Launch Clinical Trial in Mainland China cum Opening of the Manufacturing Facility at INNOPARK

Photo 3: Some remarkable speeches given by a number of honourable guests and Dr. Manson Fok, Co-Founder and Chairman of Emerging Viral Diagnostics Limited of today’s event.

10 August 2022, Hong Kong – Emerging Viral Diagnostics (“EVDL”), a Hong Kong homegrown start-up specializing in diagnostics technologies applicable for wide-range of infectious respiratory diseases, announced today its wide range of 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 Tai Po 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.