XtalPi (2228.HK) today announced a landmark strategic alliance with Mirxes (2629.HK), a global leader in gastric cancer early detection, and Signet Therapeutics, an innovator in targeted cancer therapies. The three companies will establish a joint venture across China and Singapore to build a first-of-its-kind, AI-driven “Screening-Diagnosis-Treatment” ecosystem, aimed at systematically reducing the burden of gastric cancer across Asia.
The initiative integrates XtalPi’s AI + Robotics platform, Mirxes’ world-leading blood-based screening technology, and Signet’s breakthrough pipeline for diffuse gastric cancer (DGC). The partners aim to significantly increase early screening penetration and treatment efficacy by 2031, working toward the gradual elimination of gastric cancer as a major health threat in the region.
The Challenge: Late Diagnosis and Limited Treatment
Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of death due to cancer in Asia, where nearly half of the world’s cases occur. In China, over 350,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, often at advanced stages where the five-year survival rate falls below 10%. Diffuse Gastric Cancer (DGC), accounting for one-third of these cases, is particularly resistant to traditional chemo and immunotherapy.
“The ultimate goal of technological innovation is to transform frontier breakthroughs into accessible health benefits,” said Dr. Shuhao Wen, Chairman of XtalPi. “By combining AI with early screening and precision medicine, we can ensure more patients are diagnosed at a curable stage and provide those already diagnosed with highly targeted, effective therapies.”
Strategic Investment in Mirxes: AI-Enhanced Early Detection
As part of this initiative, XtalPi has participated in Mirxes’ new share placement as a strategic investor. The collaboration focuses on two pillars:
- Algorithm Optimization: XtalPi will use its machine learning framework to analyze Mirxes’ multi-omics data from over 100,000 clinical records across Asia. This aims to triple the R&D speed of multi-cancer screening products and develop markers specifically for high-prevalence subtypes in China.
- Target Discovery: Biomarkers identified through Mirxes’ screening will provide real-world data to fuel XtalPi and Signet’s drug discovery efforts, creating a “screening-guided drug development” loop.
Dr. Lihan Zhou, CEO of Mirxes, noted: “Integrating XtalPi’s AI with our multi-omics technology can make early screening part of universal healthcare by significantly reducing costs and increasing accuracy.”
Signet Therapeutics: Closing the Loop with Targeted Therapy
On the treatment side, the alliance is anchored by SIGX1094, the world’s first targeted drug for diffuse gastric cancer to enter clinical trials. Co-developed by XtalPi and Signet Therapeutics, the drug was optimized using AI and organoid models.
- Global Recognition: In 2025, SIGX1094 was nominated for the Prix Galien (“The Nobel Prize of the Pharmaceutical Industry”), and Signet received the “Drug Discovery Innovation Award” from the Biotech Breakthrough committee.
- Precision Matching: By combining Mirxes’ screening markers with Signet’s patient-derived organoid models, the alliance can achieve precise “Screen-to-Treatment” matching for Asian patients.
Market Potential and Social Impact
The global cancer early screening market is projected to reach $360 billion by 2033, while the gastric cancer treatment market in Asia is expected to grow to $31.3 billion by 2034.
By establishing a joint venture in Singapore and China, the three companies will leverage their technical synergies—AI-optimized screening, real-world clinical data, and innovative targeted pipelines—to capture the rapidly expanding Asian market. This “closed-loop” paradigm represents a revolutionary shift in how major diseases are managed, offering a scalable model for high-efficiency, affordable, and precision healthcare.
About Mirxes
Mirxes (2629.HK) is a Singapore-born biotech company specializing in miRNA technology. Its core product, GASTROClear, is the world’s first molecular blood test for gastric cancer screening and has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. FDA.
About Signet Therapeutics
Signet Therapeutics is a pioneer in the “Organoid + AI” drug discovery model. Its lead asset, SIGX1094, is a first-in-class targeted therapy for diffuse gastric cancer currently in Phase I trials and has received FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations.
