(Yicai) May 11 -- Virax Biolabs is considering bringing its T-cell immune profiling platform for the diagnosis of post-acute infection syndromes, such as long Covid, to China to embrace the country’s huge market potential, according to the UK biotech startup’s chairman.

“China is arguably the most dynamic and one of the largest healthcare markets in the world, so we’re obviously going to be interested in being here,” James Foster, who is also Virax’s co-founder and chief executive officer, told Yicai during the seventh Shanghai Y50 Forum for Innovation and Entrepreneurship yesterday.

Established in London in 2013, Virax has developed a T-cell immune profiling platform named ViraxImmune, which focuses on T-cell diagnostics and functional immune monitoring in post-acute infection syndromes. It has entered clinical validations in the United Kingdom and is preparing to apply for the same process in the United States.

“We’ve been told that the Y50 forum brings together innovators, ecosystems, and investors around biotech, so we wanted to come here, have a look, see where we might fit in strategically, start to talk to partners, and see from where Virax might enter the China market,” Foster noted. “It seems to be the best forum to do that.”

Foster believes that post-acute infection syndromes are a really broad and underserved diagnostic category, as between 2 percent and 3 percent of the world’s population has some form of these syndromes, such as long Covid, chronic fatigue syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme, bringing a massive burden to medical service systems every year.

“We’re just starting to look at clinical validation possibilities in China,” he said, adding that his team had some early-stage conversations with potential partners and is seeking opportunities to localize production in the country.

China is trying to attract the most innovative biotechnology companies in the world with its regulatory systems and markets, Foster pointed out. Shanghai, in particular, has great strengths in innovation, capital, manufacturing, and government support, which can help small companies like Virax to expand, he noted.

The Shanghai Y50 Forum for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an annual flagship event aiming to establish the Chinese eastern megacity as a leading global hub for young talent.

Editor: Futura Costaglione