Advancing with the Nation, Cultivating ASEAN｜Sansure’s Malaysia Market Development: From Infectious Disease Diagnostics Provider to Global Public Health Partner
As the bustling crowd gradually dispersed from the exhibition hall, the three-day World Health Expo Kuala Lumpur concluded successfully. As Asia’s largest medical laboratory exhibition, the event featured over 450 exhibitors and attracted more than 10,000 attendees. This global gathering of healthcare leaders not only showcased cutting-edge medical innovations but also served as a vital platform for Chinese medical brands expanding internationally.
Sansure captivated healthcare professionals across Southeast Asia—including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Singapore—with its innovative, accessible molecular diagnostic solutions. Through in-depth dialogues with global healthcare leaders, Sansure demonstrated its technological prowess, marking a remarkable chapter in the Southeast Asian market.
Three-Day Spotlight: Opening Market Doors with Innovative Solutions
Throughout the exhibition, Sansure’s booth remained a focal point of attention, drawing diverse healthcare stakeholders including specialists from Malaysian public hospitals, senior laboratory technologists from Indonesian medical institutions, representatives of Thailand’s public health authorities, medical equipment distributors from Bangladesh, and directors of Philippine private hospitals. Visitors engaged with live equipment demonstrations while exploring collaboration opportunities—all centered on Sansure’s three core solutions that drove consistent engagement.
The SLAN-48S Real-Time PCR Instrument proved to be the most acclaimed innovation at the event. Its technical capabilities—six synchronized modules, 8-color multiplex detection, and a testing workflow completed in under 30 minutes—drew significant interest from laboratory directors. A technical manager from the University of Malaya Medical Centre stated after the demonstration: “Rapid turnaround time is critical for emergency testing. This system fully meets our efficiency requirements.” A laboratory director from Indonesia specializing in infectious disease diagnostics added: “Given endemic outbreaks like dengue fever, we urgently require rapid testing solutions. This system perfectly matches our operational needs.” Event statistics confirmed over 50 research institutes and clinical laboratories across Southeast Asia held detailed consultations regarding the system’s implementation during the exhibition.
The Natch CS3 Plus Fully Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction and Amplification System captivated professionals with its intelligent design. During live demonstrations at the event, its end-to-end automation: from sample processing to result reporting—not only minimized operator-induced variability but also boosted testing efficiency by 40% per batch. After observing the demonstration, a laboratory director from a Malaysian private hospital extended an on-site visit invitation: “We’re advancing laboratory automation upgrades. This platform’s compatibility and operational stability precisely meet our requirements.”
The popularity of Sansure’s HPV cervical cancer solutions stems from its precise alignment with local needs. In discussions, Sansure team shared China’s comprehensive experience in cervical cancer prevention—detailing how their end-to-end solution, ranging from community-based screening to precision diagnosis, reduces testing costs and increases accessibility through technological optimization. This exchange resonated deeply with Southeast Asian healthcare practitioners. A Thailand public health agency representative noted their country’s developing cervical cancer screening coverage and expressed interest in implementing similar models. In parallel, Bangladeshi partners proposed collaborative efforts focused on technology transfer paired with localized training programs to advance regional cervical cancer prevention initiatives.
Eight Years of Partnership: Sansure and Malaysia’s Joint Advancement
Sansure’s collaboration with Malaysia represents a long standing partnership. Since first initiating market development activities in 2017, both parties have engaged prospective partners through research based exchanges, establishing a robust foundation for subsequent in-depth cooperation.
A Pandemic Response Pioneer: Building Malaysia’s Frontline Defense for Three Years
When COVID-19 struck Malaysia in March 2020, Sansure spearheaded relief efforts by fully supporting Kuala Lumpur’s dual-airport testing initiative. In this race against time, the company established an unprecedented 48-hour emergency response protocol – deploying equipment within two days upon receiving requests. Over the following months, dozens of iPonatic Portable Molecular Workstations were put into operation across key locations: from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, from airports to hospitals. The point-of-care system’s streamline design enabled immediate operator readiness with minimal training, while its 15-minute sample-to-result process proved instrumental in Malaysia’s outbreak control and facilitated safe return for numerous overseas Chinese citizens.
Accelerating Global Expansion Post-Pandemic
Aligned with Malaysia’s [2024-2028 Public Health Plan] issued by the Ministry of Health, which prioritizes cervical cancer and viral hepatitis control, Sansure has accelerated its portfolio expansion beyond the pandemic era. To date, the company has secured registrations for over 60 products spanning reagents for viral hepatitis, HIV, HPV, respiratory infections, STIs as well as supporting instruments.
Leveraging its established presence in Malaysia, Sansure delivers comprehensive public health solutions anchored in its expertise for major infectious diseases, particularly through its comprehensive solutions for HPV and hepatitis. The company’s comprehensive HPV screening solution, modeled after China’s successful HPV cervical cancer solutions, combines community-based screening accessibility with advanced diagnostic precision. This approach reduces testing costs through technical optimization while expanding coverage—effectively safeguarding Malaysian women’s health.
At the pathology department of a leading Malaysian private hospital, Sansure’s fully automated molecular POCT system operates seamlessly. The department director displayed test reports generated by the equipment, stating: “The iPonatic system enables rapid HPV testing, and Sansure’s solution integrates effectively with liquid-based cytology (LBC) as a combined testing approach. We require precisely such rapid, precise, and highly accessible products. We trust Sansure’s technical capabilities and are fully confident in their ability to compete with international brands.”
Establishing Academic Excellence: China’s Solutions Empowering Global Health
WHO data reveals a global burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, with more than 1.6 billion requiring medical intervention. These diseases contribute to approximately 200,000 annual deaths and billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. In response to Malaysia’s intensified tropical disease control efforts, Sansure has launched a strategic collaboration with premier Malaysian academic institutions. This alliance merges Sansure’s biopharmaceutical R&D expertise with local diagnostic needs to establish the Tropical Disease Molecular Diagnostics Joint Research Laboratory. The partnership will drive innovation through accelerated test development and commercialization while implementing training programs for infectious disease detection technologies. Crucially, it will enhance primary medical capacities by transferring China’s field-tested methodologies to strengthen Malaysia’s public health infrastructure.
This collaboration with the University of Malaya transcends conventional research partnerships, representing Sansure’s commitment to establishing globally accessible, high-quality technologies internationally. The initiative pioneers a new model for academia-industry synergy in biopharmaceutical innovation between China and Malaysia while demonstrating how China-developed approaches advance global health solutions. The project will substantially elevate Malaysia’s capabilities in tropical disease research and clinical management. It provides critical technical support for precision medicine targeting endemic diseases like dengue fever and malaria, while establishing a sustainable framework for cross-border biomedical innovation. Ultimately, these efforts strengthen Southeast Asia’s public health security through transferable, field-validated methodologies.
New Opportunities Amid Favorable Policies: Advancing Regulatory Progress to Shape a Healthier Future for ASEAN
In June 2025, China and Malaysia marked a significant milestone in their bilateral relationship. As the two nations celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang paid a state visit to Malaysia, deepening cooperation across a wide range of sectors. This historic moment ushered in a new “Golden 50 Years” for China-Malaysia relations, with health collaboration between the two countries also accelerating into a new chapter.
On July 16, during the World Health Expo Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health announced the mutual recognition of IVD regulatory approvals between China and Malaysia. Under this new framework, Malaysian IVD products will be eligible for China’s “Green Channel,” while Chinese IVD products may opt for Malaysia’s “Verification Pathway.” Approval timelines will be shortened to 60 and 30 working days, respectively. According to the official announcement, this mutual recognition agreement will come into effect on July 30, bringing substantial policy benefits to Chinese companies.
Dr. Lizhong Dai, Chairman of Sansure and a deputy to the National People’s Congress representing the Chinese IVD sector, has been advocating for mutual recognition of medical device registration between China, ASEAN member states, and Belt and Road countries since 2018.
At this year’s World Health Expo Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Hai Ding, General Manager of Global Business Center at Sansure, was invited to participate in the “ASEAN IVD Regulatory Harmonization Forum.” Representing Chinese IVD enterprises, he joined regulatory officials, industry association experts, and executives from leading companies across ASEAN to explore new pathways for regional healthcare collaboration. During the forum, Mr. Ding shared Sansure’s ongoing business presence and implementation outcomes in ASEAN countries, emphasizing the strategic significance of the China-Malaysia regulatory recognition mechanism in facilitating the market entry of Chinese diagnostic products into Malaysia—and, by extension, into the broader ASEAN region.
Looking Ahead: Deepening Commitment and Writing a New Chapter
From emergency assistance during the pandemic to joint research on tropical diseases, from product distribution to the localization of advanced technologies, Sansure’s growth in Malaysia serves as a compelling example of how Chinese medical innovation is expanding its global footprint. Moving forward, Sansure will remain closely aligned with national strategies, continuing to address the public health needs of Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region. The company is committed to increasing its investment and deepening its presence in the Malaysian market, delivering diagnostic solutions that are tailored to local realities.
Sansure also aims to play a more proactive role in advancing regulatory harmonization across ASEAN, working alongside partners to foster a more favorable environment for the entry of Chinese medical products into the regional market. Through these efforts, Sansure hopes to ensure that Chinese solutions contribute meaningfully to ASEAN’s evolving healthcare landscape.
As a senior official from the Malaysian Ministry of Health remarked at the recent China-Malaysia Health Cooperation Forum, “What Sansure brings is not just equipment—it is an integrated, sustainable public health solution.” With the rapid development of ASEAN’s health industries, such partnerships are poised to shape the next chapter of collaborative innovation.
