28 JUNE 2024, KUALA LUMPUR – Arcadia Life Sciences Sdn Bhd (ARCADIA) is proud to announce the launching of the SHINE Program, in collaboration with Revvity Singapore Pte Ltd (REVVITY) and with the support of the Malaysian Patients’ Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies (MYPOPI). The SHINE (which stands for Screening for Health, Intervention, and Nurturing of Every Child) Program aims to avail newborn babies in Malaysia and Southeast Asian (SEA) regions access to expanded newborn screening (ENBS) which includes the comprehensive testing of newborns for a wide range of genetic, metabolic, and congenital disorders.
Arcadia’s Chief Executive Officer, En Fadzhari Abd Jabar, highlighted that one of ARCADIA’s initiatives pertains to neonatal, with a focus on newborn screening that is in line with the policy implementation for the universal newborn screening program endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) during the 77th World Health Assembly held from 27th May 2024 to 1st June 2024. The SHINE Program would advocate for ENBS to become routine for early detection, thereby allowing a longer window for intervention of those rare diseases to help increase the likelihood for optimal health results. Moving forward, outcomes from the SHINE Program will pave the way for the execution and implementation of the expanded newborn screening policies in Malaysia.
Ms. Luna Seet, Managing Director ASEAN of Revvity said, “Here at Revvity, we take pride in serving as a scientific partner to help solve some of the most complex diseases and challenges that we face today. This mission is accomplished only when our efforts are combined with those of leading institutions – including Arcadia Life Sciences – dedicated to improving the well-being of our general population. We believe our collaboration with Arcadia will enable expanded newborn screening across Malaysia and save many lives.”
As the global leader in newborn screening, Revvity offers instruments and reagents to help identify more than 50 congenital disorders, helping save the lives of approximately 70 babies each day. Revvity’s expertise provides labs of all sizes the tools on how to run a successful and cost-effective neonatal screening program to help give answers to patients and families sooner to facilitate quicker and more effective health intervention.
Likewise, the President of MYPOPI, Mr Bruce Lim reiterated that ENBS through SHINE program will be a game changer in access to timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment for children suffering from serious and life-threatening disorders. This landmark collaboration hopes to ensure that all babies can have equitable access to newborn screening; a life-saving tool for conditions such as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) which is in line with Malaysia’s national policy on Rare Diseases.
ARCADIA is hopeful that SHINE Program will lead to raising more awareness and coverage for rare and metabolic diseases such as Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) and Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) in Malaysia and SEA Region. ARCADIA aims to screen 20,000 newborns over the next two years using the ENBS platform. Let us seize this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and advocate for the effective implementation of this program. Together, we can create a healthier, brighter future for our children and generations to come.
Act Now for tomorrow’s future.
