Mr Li, good morning. Good morning, everyone.
Thank you all for joining us to launch histotripsy1 in Singapore.
You have all just heard and seen how histotripsy works.
In October 2023, less than 2 years ago, the USA FDA approved its first histotripsy system2 for treating liver cancer.
The major US medical centres3 now offer this breakthrough treatment.
Last August, the Li Ka Shing Foundation donated 3 systems to Hong Kong4.
Soon after, Mr Li generously offered, through his Foundation, to gift a system to Singapore.
Temasek Trust is very honoured to partner the Li Ka Shing Foundation to bring in not one, but two machines — one each for our 2 leading cancer centres5.
Our joint funding will also kickstart clinical trials to extend treatment to kidney and pancreatic cancers, in addition to cancers in the liver6.
TT Foundation Advisors, through its Donor Advised Fund, will work with other interested donors to expand clinical trials.
To Mr Li and the Li Ka Shing Foundation — a big thank you for your warm-hearted generosity to Singapore, and your trust in us.
Mr Li, you inspire us with your patience in supporting medical research over decades, and you spur us with your impatience in bringing solutions quickly to serve the patients sooner than later.
To our doctors, scientists, and public health agencies — an enormous vote of thanks for your deep dedication to your patients, and your tireless drive to deliver better healthcare for all7.
I look forward to the success and authorisation of this non-invasive cutting-edge treatment in Singapore as the second hub in Asia — this will be immensely helpful for cancer patients and their families, from Singapore, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
[1] Coined at the University of Michigan in 2004; comes from Greek, where histo means soft tissue, and tripsy means to break down or to crush – cancer tissue can be broken up by popping micro-bubbles created by very short pulses of focused and intense ultrasound waves.
[2] HistoSonics Edison histotripsy system under the US FDA Breakthrough Device category.
[3] Includes Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, UChicago Medicine, University of Michigan, and several others in USA.
[4] HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, CUHK Faculty of Medicine, and Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.
[5] National Cancer Centre Singapore and National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.
[6] The Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) and Temasek Trust (TT) have committed S$12 million to bring innovative non-invasive ultrasound-based histotripsy tumour clinical trials to Singapore.
[7] One cancer specialist had already been reaching out to HistoSonics to explore bringing in this novel solution for our cancer patients, when this generous offer from the Li Ka Shing Foundation came.
