KIM FOREST ENTERPRISE held its annual shareholders’ meeting yesterday (May 27), during which it approved the 2024 financial statements, reporting a net loss after tax of NT$160 million and a loss per share of NT$3.02. The loss was primarily due to higher upfront costs related to the initial integration of hospital diagnostic reagent procurement and increased personnel and equipment investments in precision medicine to support future growth. Nevertheless, the company anticipates that continued investment in R&D and market expansion, aligned with the rising demand for precision diagnostics and health management, will gradually yield positive results.
Chairman Wu Pin-Tsung stated that Taiwan officially incorporated pharmacogenomic testing into the National Health Insurance system in May last year, significantly enhancing the impact of precision cancer treatments. As a result, the company’s precision medicine business—which encompasses clinical cancer diagnostics, rare genetic disease testing, and the development of whole-genome health screening—has not only completed deployment in hospitals but also received certification for WES (Whole Exome Sequencing) and WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing). These advancements have driven a 20% year-on-year increase in performance. Although the business has yet to turn profitable, as adoption by medical institutions expands, continued revenue growth and eventual profitability are expected.
The medical diagnostics market is experiencing rapid expansion. According to Precedence Research, the global next-generation cancer diagnostics market was valued at US$17.74 billion in 2023, is projected to reach US$19.16 billion in 2025, and is expected to surpass US$38.36 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.02% between 2024 and 2034. Taiwan, now a super-aged society, is seeing growing demand for precision healthcare solutions.
In addition to expanding its clinical cancer testing portfolio, KIM FOREST is also advancing into areas such as WES for rare genetic diseases, WGS for preventive health screening, and metabolomic diagnostics. Its testing offerings span the full spectrum from “health” to “sub-health” to “disease” stages, providing physicians and patients with insights for disease prevention, chronic condition management, and personalized health planning. Through WES and WGS testing, the company can help evaluate whether genetic variations stem from inherited factors or environmental influences, enabling the formulation of tailored health management plans.
Looking ahead, Wu emphasized that with the rapid progress in genomic and metabolomic testing technologies, KIM FOREST will continue to develop service offerings in these areas. The company aims to integrate key components of precision medicine—including big data, pharmacogenomics, genetic testing, and biotechnology—into a comprehensive service platform. By combining genomics with AI-powered analytics, KIM FOREST will deliver accurate interpretations of full-genome sequencing data and integrate multi-omics data, such as genomic and metabolomic profiles. Leveraging generative AI and intelligent diagnostics, the company seeks to advance precision healthcare and further strengthen its genomic and metabolomic testing capabilities.
Resource: 金萬林續佈局基因與代謝體檢測，衝刺成長動能
