Seeking to tap into Vietnam’s gene sequencing market

More than 200 Asia-Pacific industry insiders, scientists and researchers gathered at PacBio’s genomics conference PRISM 2025 in Vietnam’s central city of Danang on April 14-16 to discuss opportunities, challenges, and lessons from other countries to make the country a regional genomics hub.

Held in collaboration with DKSH Business Unit Technology, a leading provider of scientific solutions, this marked the first time the prestigious genomics conference has been held in Vietnam and the second time in Southeast Asia.

PacBio PRISM 2025. Photo: DKSH

Connecting global experts

PRISM 2025 represents a significant milestone for Vietnam’s growing influence in the life sciences sector, offering local researchers, scientists and professionals unprecedented access to advanced genomic technologies and global expertise. The event featured presentations from genomics experts, workshops, and an exhibition of PacBio’s latest sequencing technologies.

Lyndsey Lam, director of marketing, PacBio, Asia-Pacific, said, "PRISM is our global flagship event that brings together genomics experts and researchers from around the world to exchange ideas and advance scientific discovery. We appreciate collaborating with partners like DKSH to showcase our advanced sequencing technologies and support research innovation across the region."

Nguyen Thi Ton Cam Tram, general manager, Business Unit Technology, DKSH Vietnam, said, "As PRISM 2025 co-hosts and members of PacBio's Asia-Pacific network, we're connecting Vietnamese scientists with leading genomic technologies, empowering local researchers through global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and access to cutting-edge sequencing trends."

According to experts, modern sequencing solutions are being applied in many important fields such as human genomics, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease research, and oncology. In particular, gene sequencing serves medical diagnosis and plays a key role in disease control, vaccine development, drug treatments, and effective preventive measures.

Dave Miller, vice president, Global Marketing, PacBio said, “There are several projects in which we are deeply involved in Asia-Pacific, and a lot more around the world. For example, we are partnering with the Singaporean government to develop reference genomics.”

He elaborated that while PacBio has established government-level partnerships in countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, the company sees Vietnam as an emerging market with unique potential for both research collaboration and commercial growth, and the event was part of its long-term strategy there.

Dave Miller, vice president of global marketing, PacBio. Photo: DKSH

Huge untapped potential

In Vietnam, genetic science is growing rapidly at an impressive rate of 21-22 per cent compound annual growth rate in 2019-2023. With its development orientation, increasingly expanding infrastructure, and government support for biotechnology, Vietnam is an ideal place to gather diverse perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and scientific development.

Many domestic research institutes have been receiving support from PacBio in decoding genomes related to infectious diseases and sustainable agriculture, two prominent challenges in Asia.

Dr. Mai Trong Khoa, former deputy director of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital believes medical advances have helped people have advanced treatment regimens for difficult cases, including cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy.

However, each individual has different genetic structure and inheritance, so if the same treatment processes are used, for example, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and others for cancer treatment, they cannot produce the best results. That has prompted scientists to develop gene sequencing to deal with this.

Vietnam has huge potential for gene sequencing development as the country is home to 100 million people, and has relevant development policies, especially Politburo’s Resolution No. 57 for science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation in which it identifies the importance of molecular biology.

“In fact, for Vietnam, if not the matter of technical or skill factors, compared to other countries in the region, we are approaching the scope of clinical application in hospitals. However, we have not met the demands,” Khoa said.

“Gene sequencing is an inevitable trend. If a country masters in this advance, it will help diagnosis and treatment.”

Several genomics experts shared their insights at the event. Photo: DKSH

Driving future development

Experts have agreed that while Vietnam has great potential for gene sequencing, clinical application is an issue. To enable Vietnam to tap into its potential, key drivers should include strengthening infrastructure and technology access, establishing supportive policies and regulatory frameworks, and fostering collaboration of global firms and distributors with local companies and institutions.

Dr. Jason Kang, vice president and general manager, Asia-Pacific, PacBio, said, "Vietnam has creditable GDP growth. The government is investing much in high-tech and biotech in the pharmaceutical sector. Big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang are attracting many foreign investors. I see a very bright future for Vietnam, especially in gene sequencing."

“Vietnam has a long history of agricultural development. With the development of advanced technology, along with the government's policies related to plants and genetic modification, there will be opportunities for gene sequencing. Regarding the health and biopharmaceutical fields, it is expected to attract many multinational corporations to participate in,” he said.

Strategic partnerships like the one between PacBio and DKSH are important to support Vietnam on this path. Their partnership has been ongoing since 2023 in several key markets in Southeast Asia. This collaboration has been recognised for DKSH’s exceptional performance as a key distributor, with the company receiving 'The President’s Award at Channel Odyssey 2024', PacBio’s internal channel partner event, highlighting DKSH’s performance and commitment to customer satisfaction.

DKSH’s extensive distribution network enables wider access to PacBio’s premier life science technologies, which are distinguished by their exceptional accuracy, quality, and completeness. These advanced sequencing solutions address a broad spectrum of research applications, including human germline sequencing, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease research, and oncology.

Raquel Magalhaes, senior manager, Regional Business Development, Business Unit Technology, DKSH Group, said that for 160 years, DKSH had been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across its business units: Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials, and Technology.

As a leading market expansion services provider, DKSH offers sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services, following its purpose of enriching people’s lives.

She believes that the Vietnamese market will attract many foreign genetic companies to invest.

“This market will gradually heat up, and be more fierce than ever,” Magalhaes said.

“In the coming years, the gene sequencing industry in Vietnam is expected to experience significant growth. In addition, the pharmaceutical and regenerative medicine sectors are also considered promising fields for the development of gene technology in Vietnam," Dr. Jason Kang said.

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