Philips and Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine Holdings open regional oncology center with advanced imaging solutions

 Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) a global leader in health technology, and the Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine Holdings (SAM) today officially opened the Advanced Medicine Imaging (AMI) center at Biopolis, an international biomedical research hub in Singapore. The new facility will provide specialized oncology care to the fast-growing number of people confronted with cancer in the Southeast Asia region. In addition, the center will facilitate scientific research and development and provide medical training targeted at upskilling the region’s healthcare professionals in the newest cancer therapies. 

The AMI center is equipped with advanced imaging systems and clinical informatics aimed at helping clinicians deliver confident diagnosis of cancer with increased speed and efficiency. The facilities, which will open in phases, are scheduled for completion by the end of 2019.

“The 100 million Singapore Dollar investment in the regional oncology center reaffirms our commitment to strengthen Singapore’s position as the ‘go-to’ destination for specialized cancer care,” said Dr. Djeng Shih Kien, Founder and Chairman, Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine Holdings. “Together with partners, including Philips, Varian Medical Systems and IBA Worldwide, we have a shared goal to provide a one-stop patient-centric hub where patients across the region can access the latest and most sophisticated technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”

Cancer imposes an ever-increasing health burden in Asia, with the region accounting for half of the global burden of cancer [1]. Due to the region’s ageing and growing populations, together with lifestyle and socioeconomic changes, the incidence of cancer cases in Asia is expected to increase from 6.1 million in 2008 to 10.6 million in 2030.1 This rising threat not only affects the population, it also has a dire economic impact as treatment costs spiral upwards. With healthcare systems already operating with limited resources and expertise, advanced technologies need to be leveraged to drive efficiency and deliver optimum patient outcomes.

With a comprehensive portfolio of advanced imaging systems and clinical informatics, the AMI center will empower clinicians to deliver fast and robust oncology imaging. It will house two Philips Vereos PET/CT scanners [2], the world’s first and only fully digital PET/CT systems. Using proprietary Digital Photon Counting (DPC) technology, Philips’ Vereos PET/CT provides outstanding anatomical imaging and enhances lesion detectability with improved contrast and resolution. 

Another world-first solution at AMI is Philips’ IQon Spectral CT, a new generation Computed Tomography (CT) solution that allows clinicians to characterize tumors with greater certainty than is possible with black and white images from conventional CT scans.  Philips’ IQon Spectral CT is also the world’s first spectral detector-based CT that allows clinicians to do both in-depth spectral information on demand and retrospective analysis at low-dose – a direct benefit to patients.

The AMI center also has a Philips Ingenia 3T MRI equipped with Philips’ unique Ambient Experience, which uses dynamic lighting, video and sound to provide patients with a calming immersive environment.

These state-of-the-art imaging systems within the AMI will be complemented by a full suite of Philips clinically-rich healthcare informatics solutions, supporting confident diagnosis and personalized treatment. Philips provides IT solutions to integrate systems, aggregate data, accelerate workflows, and facilitate informed decisions, giving clinical teams the insights they need to work effectively and efficiently. One example is Philips’ IntelliSpace Portal, an advanced visualization analysis and quantification platform featuring a comprehensive suite of multi-modality applications, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). IntelliSpace Portal will also serve as a collaboration platform for clinical development and research for the Advanced Medicine Education Center within the AMI, which will be open to third parties in the future.

“With our experience in health technology, Philips has provided the AMI center with an integrated solution comprising world-class diagnostic imaging and informatics systems,” said Henk de Jong, Executive Vice President & Chief of International Markets, Royal Philips, who was in Singapore to officiate the opening of the AMI center. “Our aim is to help clinicians identify cancer early, when it is more likely to respond to treatment, potentially resulting in better health outcomes and considerable savings in treatment costs.” 

Beyond diagnostic imaging innovations, upcoming facilities at the regional oncology center also promise more personalized and targeted cancer treatment pathways through the use of radioisotope therapies, such as Lu-PSMA (Lutetium Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen) therapy, and proton beam therapy for tumor treatment. 

The regional oncology center also aims to promote clinical research for breakthroughs in cancer diagnostics and treatment, and cross-border medical training to enhance the knowledge and expertise of the region’s healthcare professionals. Medical professionals from across the region can find out more about the workshops and symposiums conducted at the AMI center here.

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[1] Sankaranarayanan R, Ramadas K, Qiao YL. Managing the changing burden of cancer in Asia. BMC Med. 2014;12:3. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

[2] The application and availability of Philips’ Vereos PET/CT scanners outside of the United States is subject to approval of individual country’s regulatory authority