Increasing gastrointestinal health awareness can save many lives

The highest incidence rates of gastric cancer in East Asia are in China, and in Japan and South Korea. According to the World Health Organisation, recorded cases on the mainland comprise 43 per cent of the 989,000 total global figure.

Without lifestyle adjustments, this figure is expected to skyrocket in the coming years.

Biohit HealthCare aims to help promote gastrointestinal health and contribute to lowering stomach cancer risks on the mainland. Partnering with Grand Pharma (China), Biohit will manufacture and distribute Acetium on the mainland. The product reduces the amount of the carcinogen acetaldehyde in the stomach.

"Acetaldehyde exposure is a serious health risk. This is the beginning, and we have a lot of hard work to do. We can offer the solution for the unmet need," says Semi Korpela, president and CEO of Biohit Group.

Biohit carved its niche developing diagnostic tests and analysis systems for early detection and prevention of gastrointestinal tract diseases. Among Biohit's patented innovations is the GastroPanel, a diagnostic test performed on blood samples to assess the structure and function of the stomach mucosa.

Aligned with its gastrointestinal health advocacy, Biohit seeks co-operation with government health officials and representatives in Asia, particularly on the mainland, to conduct the Healthy Stomach Initiative. Aside from raising public consciousness, the project includes helicobacter pylori and atrophic gastritis screening using GastroPanel.