Sunway Healthcare Group signs landmark MoU with AstraZeneca

Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with AstraZeneca, marking the first collaboration of its kind between a Malaysian private healthcare group and a global pharmaceutical giant. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at a ceremony held at the Sunway Sanctuary, sets the stage for extensive cooperation in clinical trials, research, and the implementation of innovative healthcare solutions.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Khoo Chow Huat, Managing Director (Hospital & Healthcare Operations) of SHG, and Vinod Narayanan, Country President of AstraZeneca Malaysia. The signing was witnessed by Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of SHG, and Sylvia Varela, Asia Vice President of AstraZeneca.

“This partnership is a testament to our commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and addressing significant healthcare challenges,” said Dr. Khoo. “With the rise of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes in Malaysia, we need all hands on deck to develop solutions, be it to prevent, diagnose, or treat these conditions, for the benefit of humankind.”

Collaboration to address non-communicable disease challenge

The partnership will build on existing collaborations between AstraZeneca and Sunway Medical Centre (SMC), focusing on initiatives such as early screening for lung cancer and integrating the Kidney Failure Risk Equation into lab reports for early chronic kidney disease management. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of the clinical research field through various activities, including clinical trials, observational studies, real-world evidence generation, and the adoption of digital healthcare solutions and artificial intelligence (AI).

Vinod Narayanan highlighted the significance of the partnership in advancing clinical research and delivering new medicines. “As a science-led, global pharmaceutical company, we are committed to advancing the field of clinical research and accelerating the delivery of new medicines that could potentially provide more effective treatment, prevention, and, ultimately, cures for some of the world’s most complex diseases,” he said.

Partnership to leverage AI and digital technologies

AstraZeneca will explore using SMC as a potential site for future clinical trials, including Phase I trials, to expand patients’ access to its innovative drugs. This collaboration signifies a major step forward for both organizations, aiming to leverage digital technologies like AI to enhance early lung cancer screening and detect tumor markers.

Dr. Khoo noted the strategic importance of the partnership, particularly in light of the SCRC’s (Sunway Clinical Research Centre) contributions since its establishment in 2009. “To date, the SCRC has facilitated 101 investigator-led research projects and 50 industry-sponsored research studies, with AstraZeneca being a major contributor. We want to take this collaboration further by exploring Phase I clinical trials with AstraZeneca when SMC’s Phase I Clinical Trial Unit is ready in 2025,” he said.

Vinod Narayanan expressed optimism about the future of the collaboration. “Our partnership with SHG exemplifies how we are harnessing advanced AI technology. We are exploring the use of AI for early lung cancer screening and to detect tumor markers within our cancer portfolio. We hope to replicate the success of this collaboration by expanding it to include other hospitals under the Sunway Healthcare Group in the near future,” he stated.

This landmark partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing healthcare through innovation and collaboration, setting a new standard for private healthcare and pharmaceutical industry partnerships in Malaysia.