Illumina-backed 4baseCare and Wipro partner

4baseCare – one of the leading Precision Oncology company in India – has partnered with Wipro Limited , a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, to develop precision oncology solutions that will improve the affordability and timely availability of gene testing reports for cancer patients.

4baseCare and Wipro will jointly pave the way for cancer patients to gain access to advanced genomic testing at an affordable cost and reduce the turnaround time (TAT) on test results to almost half from current market average of 30 days. The partners will build a framework of efficient, streamlined, and well-regulated workflows for the development of advanced gene panels.

In India, about 7.8 lakh people die due to cancer every year. According to the National Cancer Registry Program 2020, there were 13.9 lakh cancer cases in India in 2020. By 2025, this number is expected to reach 15.7 lakhs, creating an incremental economic burden on the country. Precision oncology can prove to be a game-changer for patient recovery.

Studies have found that cancer may not behave similarly in two patients. A breast tumor might act like a lung tumor, which adds to the complexity of the ailment. Here, cost-effective, advanced genomics solutions developed by 4baseCare and Wipro can make all the difference.

Hitesh Goswami, Founder and CEO, 4baseCare, said, “Nearly after a year of its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a death toll of more than 3 lakh people. This is less than half the deaths reported due to cancer – and most of these cases are treatable with early intervention. Any untimely death is a great loss to our nation and humanity at large. I believe our partnership with Wipro finds its roots in our shared philosophy. Both of us found a common ground to deliver accountable, affordable, and accessible healthcare solutions. We look forward to fighting cancer through technology, research and collaboration.

With presence in India, Singapore, and other nations, 4baseCare is Asia’s first healthcare organization to be backed by the global genomics leader, Illumina, through their Illumina Accelerator program. It has developed comprehensive genomic panels that enable oncologists to effectively characterize and understand the molecular signature of the tumor tissues, thereby paving the way for optimal prognosis of cancer patients. By partnering with Wipro, 4baseCare will have access to the global company’s state-of-the-art genomics lab and top-of-the-line technology platforms to ensure data quality, data security, and regulatory compliance.

With their combined expertise, the partners plan to continuously innovate by driving R&D initiatives to develop advanced precision oncology solutions.

Supriyo Das, Vice President – Engineering and R&D, Wipro Limited, said, “R&D is the engine that drives creative and impactful solutions to market. Healthcare R&D has pioneered multiple affordable solutions during the past 18 months. We look forward to partnering with 4baseCare to leverage our R&D Lab facilities and expertise, with the goal of improving outcomes for cancer patients in India.”

Through this partnership, Oncologists, Cancer hospitals, and Cancer Clinics can tap diagnostics and prognostics cancer gene panels at an economical price point. It can help them identify and understand the genetic mutation of cancer, and design treatments to specifically target these mutations. The 4baseCare-Wipro partnership will help with patient recovery, and create economic dividend for the nation at large. MB Bureau