A*STAR Spin-Off Nalagenetics Implements Nationwide Drug Reaction Screening For Leprosy Patients In Indonesia

Founding members of NalaGenetics (L-R): Dr Alexander Lezhava, Dr Astrid Irwanto, Dr Levana Sani, and Prof Liu Jianjun

Singapore – NalaGenetics, a spin-off from A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS), will be transforming leprosy treatments in Indonesia with a nationwide genetic screening programme with their PGx1301 diagnostic kit. Set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, this initiative builds on a successful five-year pilot test in East Indonesia, which demonstrated the effectiveness of precision medicine in preventing life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

¹ Global leprosy (Hansen disease) update, 2021: moving towards interruption of transmission
² The New England Journal of Medicine. 2013 Oct 24;369(17):1620-8. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1213096
³ Province (Districts): Papua (Jayapura), West Papua (Manokwari, South Manokwari), Southwest Papua (Sorong), South Papua (Asmat) and North Maluku (Ternate, West Halmahera, East Halmahera)
⁴ Validation study of HLA-B*13:01 as a biomarker of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in leprosy patients in Indonesia, October 16, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008746

Annex A

Picture 1: The PGx1301 test kit developed by NalaGenetics

 

Annex B

Media Factsheet

• 2013: Discovery of HLA-B*13:01 Biomarker
  Researchers from the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore (A*STAR GIS), led by Prof Liu Jianjun and Dr Astrid Irwanto, identified the association between the **HLA-B13:01 biomarker** and Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DHS). Their research showed that individuals carrying this biomarker had a significantly higher risk of developing DHS, a severe adverse drug reaction that can be fatal if undetected.
  
  With the support of a drug safety research programme led by Prof Liu and funded by A*STAR's Strategic Positioning Fund, the discovery was further developed into a clinical-grade genotyping assay by Dr Lezhava’s team at A*STAR GIS.

• 2016: Founding of NalaGenetics
  Building on the biomarker discovery, Dr Astrid Irwanto, Dr Levana Sani, Prof Liu Jianjun, and Dr Alexander Lezhava founded NalaGenetics as a spin-off from A*STAR GIS. Their mission was to reduce adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and enhance prescription efficacy through genetic testing and information management systems.
  
  Both Dr Irwanto and Dr Sani have had first-hand experience with severe adverse drug reactions within their own families. This personal connection to the dangers of unpredictable drug responses fuelled their commitment to making genetic testing accessible and actionable for all.

• 2017: Licensing and Technology Development
  NalaGenetics licensed GIS’ technology for Rapid Real-Time PCR genotyping of HLA-B*13:01, aimed at developing a cost-effective and accurate DNA diagnostic kit for leprosy treatment selection.
  
  
• 2018: Clinical Trials Begin in Indonesia
  In partnership with the Health Research Institute of the Ministry of Health in Papua, Indonesia, NalaGenetics conducted a government-supported clinical trial across three provinces and five districts to screen leprosy patients before administering dapsone⁵. This was Indonesia’s first government-supported implementation of personalised medicine.
  • Preliminary results: 20% of leprosy patients carried at least one copy of HLA-B*13:01.
  • Impact: No DHS cases were reported among screened patients, proving the clinical utility of genetic testing
    
    
• 2019: Grants & Funding Support: Expansion to Other CountriesNalaGenetics secured an €80,000 Leprosy Research Initiative grant to expand HLA-B*13:01 screening trials to Nepal and India, reinforcing the test’s predictive value across Asian populations.
  
  
• 2020: Scientific Validation and Peer-Reviewed Publication
  The findings from the Papua trial were published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, further confirming the biomarker’s role in predicting DHS and supporting their integration into public health strategies⁶
  
  
• 2021: Regional Adoption in Papua, Indonesia
  The Ministry of Health in Papua, Indonesia, through its regional laboratory, began testing every new leprosy patient for HLA-B*13:01 before treatment initiation. This resulted in virtually zero cases of DHS since implementation.
  
  
• 2025: Nationwide Implementation in Indonesia
  Recognising the success of regional trials, the Indonesian central government announced the nationwide rollout of genetic screening for all leprosy patients from Q4 2025, marking Indonesia’s first large-scale adoption of personalised medicine.
  
  
• Looking Ahead
  Today, NalaGenetics has expanded their research and product offerings to include predictive genetic tests for:
  • Breast cancer risk assessment
  • Cardiovascular disease susceptibility
  • Other pharmacogenomics applications

⁵ Province (Districts): Papua (Jayapura), West Papua (Manokwari, South Manokwari), Southwest Papua (Sorong), South Papua (Asmat) and North Maluku (Ternate, West Halmahera, East Halmahera)
⁶ Validation study of HLA-B*13:01 as a biomarker of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome in leprosy patients in Indonesia, October 16, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008746

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About A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS)

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity. Established in 2000 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS pursues the integration of technology, genetics, and biology towards academic, economic and societal impact, with a mission to "read, reveal and (ω)rite DNA for a better Singapore and world".

Key research areas at the GIS include Precision Medicine & Population Genomics, Genome Informatics, Spatial & Single Cell Systems, Epigenetic & Epitranscriptomic Regulation, Genome Architecture & Design, and Sequencing Platforms. The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is also utilised to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact.

For more information about GIS, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/gis.

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About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

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About NalaGenetics

NalaGenetics was built with the passion to make preventive, DNA-based precision healthcare accessible to as many people as possible. Specifically, catalyzed by the founders’ personal experiences of problematic medication side effects and knowledge of what genetic testing can offer, NalaGenetics specializes in personalized prevention strategies for cancer, cardiometabolic, and neurodegenerative conditions by combining monogenic risk, polygenic risk, and clinical risk factors for actionable insights.