Nexsen Ltd (ASX:NXN) has secured its first hospital partner in Asia after signing a binding term sheet with GHK Hospital Ltd, operator of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, to support clinical validation and potential commercial adoption of its rapid point-of-care diagnostics platform.
Nexsen is developing rapid point-of-care diagnostics designed to deliver lab-grade results closer to the patient, reducing reliance on slower laboratory testing.
Its lead product is StrepSure®, a rapid diagnostic for Group B Streptococcus, while the company is also advancing kidney function diagnostics targeting Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease.
GHK owns Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, a 500-bed multi-specialty private tertiary hospital and private teaching hospital with The University of Hong Kong as its exclusive partner.
GHK is part of IHH Healthcare Berhad, one of the world’s largest healthcare groups, operating 190 healthcare facilities across 10 countries, including 89 hospitals, clinics and ambulatory care centres.
Deal targets validation and adoption
The agreement establishes a strategic collaboration framework covering clinical validation, real-world data generation and commercialisation of Nexsen’s diagnostic products.
The collaboration will give Nexsen access to relevant patient populations and hospital workflows, allowing the company to assess how its tests perform in real-world clinical settings.
It also includes assessment of pricing, reimbursement feasibility and potential adoption pathways in Hong Kong and other markets connected to IHH’s North Asia network.
“Critical bridge” to real-world use
Managing director Mark Muzzin said the collaboration moved Nexsen’s platform into a leading hospital environment.
“This partnership materially strengthens Nexsen’s ability to execute its Asia-Pacific strategy, providing a critical bridge between product development and real-world adoption across one of the world’s most important healthcare regions,” he said.
The GHK agreement is Nexsen’s third foundational Asia-Pacific initiative, following HK$6 million in IGNITE Grant funding for Hong Kong R&D facilities and the UM-Nexsen Joint Research Facility at Universiti Malaya.
The combined initiatives provide an integrated regional platform spanning research, clinical validation, grant-supported development, manufacturing readiness and future adoption pathways.
Next steps
Nexsen and GHK intend to progress the framework into one or more definitive agreements within six months.
Initial work is expected to focus on clinical validation and real-world assessment of Nexsen’s Group B Streptococcus and kidney function diagnostics within GHK and affiliated IHH entities in North Asia.