International MoU inked between Chemistry and Biomedical talents from Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe for late-stage cancer research enhancement

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation sends out the below press release on behalf of its partner companies – LSCCB and Invitrocue (HK).

Under the witness of Ms. Rebecca Pun, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (back row, left) and Mr. Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (back row, right), Prof. Che, Managing Director of LSCCB (front row, left) and Ms. Emily Cheung, General Manager of Invitrocue (HK) Limited (front row, right) signed the MoU for a 5-year strategic partnership programme.

(Hong Kong 17 May, 2022) - Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited (“LSCCB”), Hong Kong, Singapore life science companies Invitrocue (HK) (“IVQHK”) and European leader in lung cancer research, Dr. Rafael Rosell jointly announced today their agreement to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”), forging international collaborations between local talents and worldwide institutes via connection to corporates’ global network. 

The partnership program including two Science Park based companies – LSCCB, one of the research centres under the Health@InnoHK cluster funded by Innovation and Technology Commission, while IVQHK is Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s park company.

The 5-year strategic partnership will study the preclinical efficacy of proprietary anticancer compounds developed by Prof. Chi-Ming Che, Lead Principal Investigator and Managing Director of LSCCB using IVQ’s breakthrough technologies, including, Onco-PDO™ (Patient-Derived Organoids Chemotherapeutic Test), Invivocue’s Humanized Mice Technologies, & Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The research conducted will set forth the pathway in attempt to make advanced cancer a treatable chronic disease and improve patients’ lives. 

Dr. Rafael Rosell, a renowned lung cancer expert based in Spain, will serve as clinical and scientific advisor of the project, collaborating on the study of molecular mechanisms of the anticancer compounds and advising on future clinical trial.

Along with the multilateral research framework, Invitrocue committed to offer contribution for eligible cancer patients to perform Onco-PDO™ Chemosensitivity Test, an in vitro drug screening on patient-specific organoid as therapeutic tool in personalized treatment, leading to more durable responses with fewer side effects from less responsive treatment. The contribution covers cancer types including lung cancer, breast cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cervical cancer.

“I am hoping for successful growth of LSCCB that will lay a foundation for establishment of National Innovation Centre in Hong Kong, which would become the engine to power the development of Science and Technology for the benefit of Mankind.” said the Managing Director of LSCCB, Prof. Chi-Ming Che.

“Centralizing cancer biology research is essential through international collaboration to develop new therapies and optimize treatments, such as those based on chemotherapy.” said the key international advisor, Dr. Rafael Rosell. “Interdisciplinary, international collaboration could harmonize the understanding of oncogenesis, a determinant factor in augmenting curability and cancer elimination.” 

Regional head of Invitrocue, Ms. Emily Cheung said: “As an enterprise actively participating in this research projects, Invitrocue hope to fill the gap to transform wealth of expertise into actionable solutions meeting unsolved medical challenges, strengthen the interaction between public and private sector, making research more sustainable.

Ms Rebecca Pun, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology said: “The signing of the MoU on the tripartite collaboration among the Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, one of our InnoHK research laboratories, Invitrocue (HK) Limited and Dr. Rafael Rosell signifies an important step of building partnership between our InnoHK research laboratories and renowned international collaborators in the field of health-care and life sciences.  We look forward to the translation of the Laboratory’s R&D deliverables into new solutions and promising treatments in the foreseeable future.”

Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP said: “We are thrilled to witness one of the InnoHK’s research laboratories, LSCCB, in signing a strategic MoU with Singapore-based Invitrocue (HK) and esteemed international cancer specialist Dr. Rafael Rosell. This high-level collaboration manifests the global potential of Hong Kong’s biomedical R&D ecosystem and realises InnoHK’s vision of building a world-class centre for translational research, while HKSTP will continue to support global talent and tech ventures on life-changing innovation missions to benefit society.”

• LSCCB team developed anticancer compounds in attempt to make advanced cancer a treatable chronic disease
• Private enterprise participation encourages cross-border collaborations between local talents and European leading researcher via access to corporates’ global network
• Corporate committed to support the research project by a series of humanized research model and full support for cancer patients to perform Onco-PDO™