Nigerian biotech startup Syndicate Bio has partnered with SOPHiA GENETICS, a leader in cloud-native software for healthcare and data-driven medicine, to pioneer comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsy technologies across Africa. This collaboration makes Syndicate Bio the first lab on the continent to offer these advanced diagnostic tools widely.
Founded in September by Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, former CEO of 54gene, along with Dr. Jumi Popoola and Estelle Dogbo, Syndicate Bio aims to enhance local precision medicine. The startup works closely with governments, pharmaceutical companies, academia, and other key stakeholders to not only impact healthcare locally but also create datasets that accelerate global drug discovery and development.
In November, Syndicate Bio announced a strategic partnership with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) to launch the Cancer Genome Nigeria project. The integration of genomic profiling and liquid biopsy technologies—bolstered by collaborations with SOPHiA GENETICS and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)—aims to advance global health equity.
“Partnering with SOPHiA GENETICS to bring the MSK-ACCESS® powered by SOPHiA DDM™ to our labs marks a significant advancement in the cancer treatment and research landscape in Africa, starting with Nigeria,” said Dr. Ene-Obong. “The next-generation sequencing and liquid biopsy technologies enabled by this collaboration offer a transformative leap in oncology research and treatment across the continent.”
“Through this collaboration, we aim to foster the widespread application of precision medicine in oncology throughout Africa, thereby improving patient outcomes continent-wide. Our scientific expertise, combined with the AI-enabled technologies and data-driven solutions provided by SOPHiA GENETICS, presents a unique opportunity to transform the cancer patient journey through non-invasive analysis, predictive genetic testing, and targeted precision medicine,” he added.
