Illustrative image (Source: Alamy) Tokyo (VNA) – The National Cancer Centre Japan (NCCJ) has recently launched a cooperative project with five Southeast Asian countries to develop cancer genomic medicines and other new drugs to provide better treatment for patients.
The Atlas project, which involves in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, aims to develop targeted therapies for rare types of cancer, as well as provide opportunities for people outside of Japan to receive advanced treatment.
Cancer genomics uses technologies such as sequencing to identify DNA alterations and help doctors create customized treatment for an individual's cancer.
According to the centre, parts of Southeast Asia lack the medical systems required to address the rising number of cancer patients that has accompanied population growth and economic development.
By expanding clinical trials to patients of other countries and sharing data, the project aims to accelerate the development of prospective drugs. Japan will also share its expertise through training and study programmes.
"We want to establish a development framework for drugs and promote cancer genomic medicines in Asia, catching up with Europe and the United States," said Kenichi Nakamura, chief of the Research Management Division at the center's hospital./.
VNA
