Many countries support life sciences as a key industry, since it is one of the fastest-growing industries of this century. With the iterative innovation of technologies including big data and artificial intelligence (AI), “Internet Plus Healthcare” (IPHC) has accelerated rapidly. Recently, we interviewed Sun Dawei, the founder and chairman of ChosenMed, on some of the hot topics in this field.

In the era of AI, as the global demographic landscape evolves, what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the commercial market of companion diagnostics (CDx) for cancer drugs?

Sun Dawei: Driven by the acceleration of global aging, the rising incidence of cancer, and the growing demand for precision medicine, the market for CDx for cancer drugs and chronic disease screening is expanding significantly. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of low fertility rates, the principle of having “fewer but healthier births” is fueling the expansion of the genetic testing market for reproduction. AI technologies are revolutionizing diagnostic and therapeutic modes by reducing testing costs, accelerating data mining of biomarkers, and enhancing the capability to interpret CDx for cancer drugs, thereby propelling precision medicine to new heights. Conversely, the privacy protection and ethical controversies of genetic data have emerged as critical concerns for practitioners and regulatory authorities worldwide. The absence of unified regulatory standards and the limited medical insurance coverage further elevate market entry barriers and the payment threshold. Moreover, tumor heterogeneity prolongs the screening and validation cycles for biomarkers, increasing costs and posing significant challenges to the widespread adoption of these technologies. The convergence of AI and CDx is catalyzing a shift in cancer diagnosis and treatment towards personalized and dynamic management. Yet, we must first break through barriers in data, technology, and payment to truly benefit from the aging population and innovation, and to reshape the healthcare ecosystem.

What is the significance of ChosenMed’s pioneering establishment of a tumor genome atlas database for the Chinese population?

Sun Dawei: The establishment of China’s first tumor genome atlas database marks a significant milestone for both ChosenMed and the entire field of oncology research in China. The project brings together over 70 Class A hospitals across China, recruiting patients with a wide range of cancers, including breast, gastric, liver, lung, and colorectal cancer. It addresses several critical research gaps and heralds a new era of systematic and standardized research in China’s oncology gene studies. For instance, it has introduced unified standards and protocols for gene testing for the first time, established a clinically valuable tumor gene data repository, and paved the way for future drug development and personalized therapies. By leveraging this project, we have developed our proprietary testing products by integrating next-generation sequencing (NGS) with AI technologies, thereby facilitating the broad clinical application of genetic testing.

ChosenMed Clinical Laboratory

With AI transforming various industries, what inspired ChosenMed to develop MSIscope? As a founder with a strong business background, what do you see as ChosenMed’s competitive advantages? How do you strike a balance between technological advancement and successful commercialization?

Sun Dawei: When we developed MSIscope, our goal was clear: to support precision medicine by boosting the efficiency and accuracy of MSI detection. Current MSI detection methods like IHC, PCR, and NGS are often costly. MSIscope, developed by ChosenMed, uses AI deep learning to analyze multi-scale features in pathology images. It needs only one unstained pathological section and can predict MSI status in half a day. This innovation perfectly reflects our key strength: combining the latest technologies with real-world medical applications. We are one of the few domestic enterprises capable of developing algorithms for the entire gene detection process. Our genomic information team has been active in bioinformatics analysis for many years and holds over a hundred patents and copyrights for bioinformatics software. The MSIsensor series of algorithms, developed by our technical team, has been cited in over 710 papers and applied in more than 700 clinical studies spanning over 30 countries. By prioritizing product applications and ensuring the clinical value of our AI technologies, we strike a balance between technological advancement and successful commercialization, and achieve the widespread implementation of precision medicine.

Sun Dawei, Founder and Chairman of ChosenMed

ChosenMed has R&D bases in China and the US. What is your future layout or strategy regarding global expansion?

Sun Dawei: Our strategy for global expansion focuses on creating a worldwide R&D ecosystem and increasing our presence in the international market. We have set up R&D bases in China and the US to leverage world-class scientific resources, attract international talent, and boost our innovation capabilities. As for collaboration models, we have actively established strategic partnerships with renowned international enterprises like IDT and QIAGEN, engaging in in-depth cooperation in the field of precision oncology. We are also targeting the international market, especially in the domains of tumor CDx and the development of immunotherapy drugs. We keep expanding our business globally through technology export and active international academic exchanges. Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold the “mutual benefit and win-win” principle, advance cross-border technological cooperation, and strengthen our market competitiveness in the global precision oncology sector.

Given that the life sciences field is characterized by a long-cycle entrepreneurial environment, founders must also focus on raising funds. How do you achieve a balanced relationship with capital?

Sun Dawei: We do not view financing as merely obtaining funds in the long-cycle track of life sciences. Instead, we focus on the strategic resources of investors and seek to establish synergistic relationships. Our company has benefited from policy support, as we are a national high-tech enterprise recognized as SRDI (specialized, refined, differential and innovative) enterprises and “little giants”. Besides, we have also leveraged market-oriented capital operations to ensure the steady progress of technology R&D and commercialization. Our company has received investments from several prominent institutions, such as Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd., Nanjing Yang Zi State-owned Investment Group, and Highlight Capital (HLC), encompassing state-owned capital, market-oriented funds, and industrial capital. A diverse capital structure also prevents us from being dominated by short-term capital considerations. This enables us to preserve our independence and pursue long-term value creation. In the golden age of the life sciences industry, we will continue to prioritize innovation as our core driving force. By focusing on sustainable product development and realization, we strive to fulfill our vision of becoming a global leader in providing comprehensive products and services for precision oncology.