Mekong Capital has always had a strong ESG focus since its first fund in 2001. The involvement of various development finance institutions as our LPs and partners did help us at various times to articulate clear ESG standards and goals. More recently we have aimed to align our efforts with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and our personal purposes and commitments in life, which we seek to fulfill through our work at Mekong Capital.
Our healthcare investments have contributed to the health and wellbeing of the Vietnamese people through improving access to essential services, enhancing health infrastructure, and better care and innovation], and increasingly the impact is spreading throughout Southeast Asia and China. This may support progress towards SDG#3: Health and Wellbeing.
Traphaco is Vietnam #1 plant-based supplement company. Utilizing natural ingredients farmed in Vietnam and having been used for centuries in traditional Vietnamese medicine, Traphaco’s products are a safe and well proven alternative the Western medicines and supplements.
LiveSpo is one of the world’s top producers of spore-based probiotics for human consumption, specially bacillus Clausii and bacillus Subtills. These products are often an alternative to antibiotics (which are often overused in countries such as Vietnam). In addition to the typical role of probiotics for digestive health, LiveSpo has pioneered the use of probiotics for respiratory health. A series of three clinical trials, all separately peer reviewed and published in the leading peer reviewed journal Scientific Reports, demonstrated that LiveSpo NAVAX, which utilizes bacillus subtills spores in a saline solution, applied to the respiratory tract, had a substantial impact on eliminating respiratory viral infections. This included shortened recovery times, symptom relief and significantly reduced viral load counts for acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)[1], influenza[2], and acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) and acute otitis media (AOM)[3]. Scientific Reports is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that belongs to the Nature Portfolio, which is a group of journals owned by the publisher Springer Nature.
Gene Solutions is a pioneer in genetic testing
For disease detection in Asia, having delivered over 2.2 million tests since their establishment in 2017. Gene Solutions operates in three distinct areas of disease detection. Gene Solutions’ original business was Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NiPT) for pregnant women, which tests for certain genetic abnormalities in both fetus and mother using a simple blood test. Gene Solutions has achieved 85% market share of NiPT in Vietnam. These tests are recommended via obstetricians typically around the 9-10 week of pregnancy.
Gene Solutions is a global pioneer in Early Cancer Detection (ECD)
For people who have no symptoms of cancer. These tests include both Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED), such as SPOT-MAS 10, which can detect up to 10 types of cancer, as well as Single Cancer Early Detection (SCED) tests focusing for example of screening for lung cancer or colorectal cancer. These tests are typically recommended by general practitioners and diagnostic clinics.
Gene Solutions is also a global pioneer in tests used in the treatment of cancer
Which guide treatment options and treatment progress, as well as tests given to patients who are in cancer remission to detect any recurrence of cancer. These tests are known as Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP) and Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) and are prescribed by oncologists.
Gene Solutions has formed extensive partnerships throughout Southeast Asia, and is available at more than 3,000 hospitals across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.
Gene Solutions competitive advantage is its cutting-edge technology utilizing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) combined with its extensive proprietary genetic databases. Their tests are validated via extensive clinical trials that have been published in leading peer reviewed journals. They are a first mover in forming partnerships and being endorsed by a wide network of hospitals throughout Asia. And they do this with a lower cost structure compared to their North American peers.
Below are selected key clinical trials from Gene Solutions’ clinical research portfolio Clinical resources | Gene Solutions:
This study demonstrates that non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) data can effectively reconstruct the Vietnamese genetic profile, reveal disease-linked variants and offering a cost-efficient resource for large-scale genetic studies across Southeast Asia.
This study demonstrates that non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) data can effectively reconstruct the Vietnamese genetic profile, reveal disease-linked variants and offering a cost-efficient resource for large-scale genetic studies across Southeast Asia.
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was a strong prognostic biomarker to monitor patients during cancer management
This study provides the first large-scale genetic risk assessment for breast cancer in Vietnamese women, identifying both hereditary mutations and polygenic risk factors. The findings support the development of personalized breast cancer screening recommendations for women in Vietnam.
ctDNA is a strong, independent predictor of colorectal cancer recurrence and supports personalized post-surgical monitoring and treatment decisions.
TNH Group is a chain of affordable general hospitals, serving middle class people who typically rely on reimbursement from Vietnam’s national social insurance program.
TNH operates in Northern provincial Vietnam, particularly in areas near large industrial zones. Their 3 hospitals currently operating are in Thai Nguyen City, Pho Yen City in Thai Nguyen Province, and Viet Yen City in Bac Giang Province.
TNH has plans to scale up to 10 hospitals in Northern Vietnam by 2030, making high-quality affordable healthcare more accessible to middle class people throughout Vietnam.
