BioNexus Gene Lab Corp
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Apr 15, 2025.
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FY2024 · Filed Apr 15, 2025
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Item 1. Business
Executive Summary and Strategic Outlook
The Company is pleased to present its fiscal year 2024 Form 10-K, highlighting significant progress in core business operations, robust liquidity, strategic innovation initiatives, and proactive governance enhancements.
Financial Strength and Stability
The Company ended 2024 with a strong cash position of approximately USD $4.37 million, minimal debt, and robust liquidity. This positions us ideally to capture strategic growth opportunities, invest in technology advancements, and navigate market uncertainties confidently.
Innovative Growth and Forward-Looking Initiatives
In 2024, BGLC proactively embraced digital health technology, advanced molecular diagnostics, and blockchain-based treasury management—positioning the company at the forefront of innovation. Our recently adopted Ethereum treasury strategy underscores our commitment to efficiency, transparency, and strategic foresight.
Corporate Governance and Compliance Leadership
We have proactively addressed Nasdaq compliance challenges, including implementing a strategic reverse stock split, demonstrating a firm commitment to maintaining our valuable Nasdaq listing and shareholder value. The Company is focused on active expansion of our business through both organic and inorganic means, and has retained industry leading support to support our financial growth and capital raising efforts.
Future Outlook
Looking forward, BGLC anticipates continued strategic expansion into high-growth sectors, driven by robust corporate governance, innovative technologies, and sustained financial resilience. We are confident our actions will translate into sustainable shareholder value and long-term strategic advantages.
Overview
The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Chemrex, focuses on the sale of chemical raw materials for the manufacture of industrial, medical, appliance, aero, automotive, mechanical, and electronic industries in the Southeast Asia region. These countries include Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries in Southeast Asia.
In addition, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, MRNA Scientific, is in the business of developing and providing safe, effective, and non-invasive liquid biopsy tests for the early detection of biomarkers that we believe are linked to diseases to minimize treatment costs and improve patient management. Our non-invasive blood tests provide analysis of changes in RNA to detect the potential risk of 11 different diseases.
Corporate History
The Company was incorporated in the State of Wyoming on May 12, 2017. On August 23, 2017, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of MRNA Scientific Sdn. Bhd. (formerly BioNexus Gene Lab Sdn. Bhd), a Malaysian corporation incorporated in Malaysia on April 7, 2015, which it then subsequently changed its name to MRNA Scientific Sdn. Bhd. (“MRNA Scientific”) on September 19, 2023.
On December 31, 2020, the Company consummated a Share Exchange Agreement with Chemrex and the Chemrex shareholders, pursuant to which we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Chemrex, which was incorporated in Malaysia on September 29, 2004, from the Chemrex shareholders in exchange for 68,487,261 shares of common stock of the Company issued to the Chemrex shareholders.
Initial Public Offering.
On July 20, 2023, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc., as underwriter (the "Underwriter") pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a firm commitment underwritten public offering by the Company (the "Offering") of 1,250,000 shares of common stock, no par value, priced at a public offering price of $4.00 per share.
In addition, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter was granted a 45-day option (the "Over-Allotment Option") to purchase up to an additional 187,500 shares of common stock at the public offering price of $4.00 per share. The Underwriter fully exercised the Over-Allotment Option on July 24, 2023.
The securities were offered by the Company pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-269753), which was originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on February 14, 2023, and declared effective by the Commission on July 19, 2023.
On July 24, 2023, the Offering closed, and the Company issued and sold 1,437,500 shares of common stock, including 187,500 shares sold pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. The Offering was priced at $4.00 per share for total gross proceeds of $5.75 million before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter received an 8% underwriting discount on the public offering price for the shares common stock. The Company therefore received net proceeds, before expenses, of $5,290,000 from the sale of the common stock. In addition, the Company issued to the Underwriter warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 115,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Underwriter's Warrants") at an exercise price of $4.40 per share. The Underwriter's Warrants are exercisable from July 24, 2023 until July 24, 2028.
Reverse Stock Split.
On June 5, 2023, the Company filed an Article of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation with the Wyoming Secretary of State to modify the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split from one-for-ten (10) to one-for-twelve (12) (the “Revised Reverse Stock Split”). Upon effectiveness of the Revised Reverse Stock Split, every twelve (12) outstanding shares of common stock were combined into and automatically became one share of common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the Revised Reverse Stock Split and all such fractional shares or odd lots (less than 100 shares to any record or beneficial holder) that were issuable in the Revised Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the nearest whole share, or rounded up to 100 shares, respectively.
The Revised Reverse Stock Split was approved and authorized by a majority of the Company’s stockholder on May 8, 2023 and by the Board of Directors of the Company on May 8, 2023.
On July 19, 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced the Revised Reverse Stock Split.
Recent Events.
*A.*Annual Meeting Irregularities.
In connection with the Company’s Annual Meeting held on October 4, 2024, as previously reported, the Company believes that, in advance of the Annual Meeting and potentially in violation of federal securities laws, a solicitation of dissident proxies, along with the dissemination of false and misleading statements, was made to a number of Company shareholders holding substantial voting power. Many of these shareholders were prior shareholders of our subsidiary, Chemrex. No dissident proxy was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required under their rules and regulations. This belief is premised upon preliminary information received by the Company from certain of these shareholders. Based on this information, the Company believes that a former Officer and Director of the Company, who was previously removed by the Company shareholders, was one of the primary dissident parties directing the unlawful acts (“Dissident Actors”). The Company believes the dissident solicitation negatively affected the results of the approval of the stock option plan and a reverse stock split proposal (“Compromised Proposals”). The Company believes the Dissident Actors ostensibly urged a number of shareholders holding a substantial number of votes to oppose the Compromised Proposals. As a result, the Compromised Proposals were not approved by the Company’s shareholders. The reverse stock split proposal was necessary for the Company to maintain its Nasdaq listing (See B.Nasdaq Deficiency below).
*B.*Nasdaq Deficiency.
On November 6, 2023, the Company reported that it received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) regarding the Company’s failure to comply with Nasdaq Continued Listing Rule (“Rule”) 5550(a)(2), which requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. A failure to comply with Rule 5550(a)(2) exists when listed securities fail to maintain a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days.
Under Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company automatically was provided a period of 180 calendar days, until May 6, 2024, to regain compliance.
The Company requested in writing an additional 180-calendar day compliance period after the expiration of the Initial Period to regain compliance with the Nasdaq requirements and informed Nasdaq of its intention to cure the deficiency during any second compliance period extension by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary.
On May 8, 2024, the Company received notification from Nasdaq that, after an analysis of the requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Staff determined that the Company is eligible for an additional 180 calendar day extension period (the “Additional Period”), or until November 4, 2024. If at any time during this 180-day period the closing bid price of the Company’s securities is at least $1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, the Company’s compliance will be regained.
On December 27, 2024, the Company received a written notice from the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) indicating that the Company has been granted a temporary exception to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which requires a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share (the “Bid Price Rule”). The Company has until May 1, 2025, to regain compliance. As part of this compliance plan, the Company effected a reverse stock split, which became market effective on April 7, 2025, which resulted in every ten (10) shares immediately prior to the market effectiveness being consolidated into one (1) share on the market effective date. The company will have to close above the minimum bid price of $1 for a total of 10 trading days from the market effective date to regain compliance. Failure to regain compliance by May 1, 2025, will result in the delisting of the Company’s common stock from The Nasdaq Capital Market.
*C.*Special Meeting Results.
Following the failure of the reverse stock split proposal at the Company’s Annual Meeting (See A.Annual Meeting Irregularities above), on March 19, 2025**,**the "Company held a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") to approve a reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock, with a ratio ranging from one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-ten (1:10), with the exact ratio to be set at the discretion of the Board of Directors. After a quorum was established, the shareholders approved the Reverse Stock Split. Thereafter, on that same date, the Board of Directors set the reverse stock split ratio at 1 for 10. The Reverse Stock Split was approved by the Board at a ratio of one-for-ten (1:10), an amendment was filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State on April 1, 2025, and became market effective on April 7, 2025.
*D.*Chemrex Governance.
During preparation of the Company’s quarterly report for the period ending September 30, 2024, several lapses in corporate governance standards were discovered in our wholly owned subsidiary, Chemrex. These findings have been duly disclosed in our prior filings after investigation by the Audit Committee. The findings of the Audit Committee investigation were that due to the resignation of two Directors (Mr. Wei Foong Lim, and Mr. Koon Wai Wong), one of which was an Audit Committee member, that oversight and governance at the subsidiary level of Chemrex required improvement. This was communicated with our Independent Auditor, and the result is that the Audit Committee has authorized an Internal Audit program to help improve overall governance and controls, that the report would be tabled to the Audit Committee and Management for action, and that the lapses would be reviewed at an upcoming Annual Shareholder Meeting of Chemrex to be held on or before June 2025.
During this meeting, the transactions associated with the governance lapses will be reviewed and either ratified or rejected by the Company as the sole shareholder. As all accounting treatment has been duly disclosed, we do not expect any material negative impact on the financial statements pending the results of the Annual Meeting.
The transactions and notes are highlighted in Item 13, Related Party Transactions.
Corporate Structure
The corporate structure as of the date of this filing depicted below:
| BioNexus Gene Lab Corp.a Wyoming company | ||
| 100% owned MRNA Scientific Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as“BioNexus Gene Lab Sdn. Bhd.”),a Malaysian company | 100% ownedChemrex CorporationSdn. Bhd.,a Malaysian company |
|---|
Chemical Raw Material Business
Our Products
Chemrex, our wholly owned subsidiary, is involved in the wholesale of chemical raw material products. We purchase raw chemical materials, mostly fibre re-enforced polymers (“FRP”), from domestic and international manufacturers and sell them to manufacturers in Southeast Asia. The FRP and other raw materials we offer are used to produce a wide variety of goods, including handrails, bench tops, automotive and aero parts, cleanroom panels, and covers for various instruments used in manufacturing.
A substantial portion of the Company's revenue comes from the sale of FRP products. FRP products are highly sought after by our customers due to:
| · | The material's lightweight coupled with high strength. The material's ability to be a good electrical insulator with no electro-magnetic behavior and no electric spark. |
| · | The material's rust-free nature and resistance to acid, alkali, organic dissolvents, and other gas and liquid mixtures. |
| · | The material's resistance to aging with more than 20 years of useful life under normal working conditions. |
| · | The material's ease of maintenance. |
Chemical Raw Material Product Examples
Listed below are some examples of FRP chemical raw material products the company sells. In addition, there are both general purpose and more specific use case materials.
Polyester Resin SHCP 268 SHCP 268 is a thixotropic, quick-curing unsaturated polyester resin suitable as a general-purpose resin. It can be used in generally all FRP products. However, it does not have significant structural integrity, chemical resistance, or UV resistance properties and as a result its application is limited. For example, one of the ways this material has been used is in the construction of train seats.
Polyester Resin 9509 This is a premium raw material compared to Polyester Resin SHCP 268 and is priced higher. Like Polyester Resin SHCP 268, it is a general-purpose material but provides more structural integrity and is longer lasting. Customers have used this material to produce marine boats and water slides.
Polyester Resin 2802 This is also a more premium grade of resin. It has a niche use case and is generally used as a key component in the pultrusion process by certain manufacturers.
Chemical Raw Material Product Applications
Our chemicals are used to produce a wide variety of finished goods. Common products utilizing our FRP materials include handrails, bench tops, automotive and aero parts, panelling for hospital/laboratory/industrial clean rooms, and covers for various instruments used in manufacturing. Some examples of FRP end-user products manufactured by our customers are displayed below:
Medical and Industrial Equipment
Platform, Handrail and Decking
Medical Appliances
Research and Development
As part of our current research and development efforts, we are working closely with external R&D companies, such as Sift Center Sdn. Bhd. (www.siftcenter.com) and PCA Group Sdn. Bhd. (www.pcagroup.com), to produce and supply FRP products to Shell petrol stations in Malaysia. Sift Center Sdn. Bhd. and PCA Group Sdn. Bhd. are attempting to use the infusion vacuum process to produce Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen fueling stations. As part of our collaboration, we will provide the resin and fiberglass required to produce the infusion vacuum chamber and our technical expertise regarding the viability of the design.
Sales and Marketing
| · | Online Promotion. We market our product offerings through our website, www.chemrex.com.my. We utilize Google’s search engine optimization to drive traffic to our website. We also engaged Pan Pages, an internet marketing company, to further market our products to new consumers over the internet. New prospective customers can forward their inquiries via phone or our website. Our marketing and technical representatives will then contact the prospective customer and discuss how we can fulfill their order and accommodate any specific requests. Our marketing team also conducts online searches and attempts to identify new customers from time to time. |
| · | Product Display. We invite current and potential customers to examine our product range at our warehouse in order that customers can get a more comprehensive assessment of our product’s quality. |
| · | Marketing Personnel. Our product sales and marketing are performed internally by our Managing Director, Mr. Tham Too Kam, our Executive Director, Mr. Tan Liong Tai, and our Marketing Manager, Mr. Chan Kwan Wah, together with three marketing and technical representatives. In addition, our marketing team visits our existing customers monthly, and we have several discussions with them to obtain information of new potential competitors in the market. |
| · | Business Introduction from Suppliers. We meet our suppliers regularly. From time to time, our suppliers also will provide us with the contact details of new potential customers to whom we can provide our products, and our marketing personnel will follow up on these new sales leads. |
Our Chemical Raw Material Customers
Most of our existing customers are well-established manufacturers and contractors with long-term relationships with Chemrex who regularly place orders. Typically, they would give us a forecast of the products they need and place their orders monthly. Our top five customers, based on revenue, accounted for approximately 29.97% of our revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
| Chemrex Top 5 Customers | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| A | $641,949 | 6.75% |
| B | $632,956 | 6.66% |
| C | $572,023 | 6.01% |
| D | $504,895 | 5.31% |
| E | $498,615 | 5.24% |
| Total | 2,850,438 | 29.97% |
From time to time, we assist customers with their new product development or projects with suitable and compatible raw materials. In addition, leveraging on our prior successful dealings with local and international raw materials manufacturers, we often collaborate with our customer's research teams to meet their new product needs, such as the various technical and aesthetic requirements of their new products or projects.
Our Chemical Raw Material Suppliers
We consider our major vendors in each period to be those vendors that accounted for more than 10% of overall purchases in such period. We had three suppliers accounted for 19.89%, 16.08%, and 13.85% of the Company’s total chemical raw material purchase, respectively. We had three major vendors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, who collectively accounted for 57.84% of total purchases. We purchase from a variety of suppliers and believe these raw materials are widely available. If we were unable to purchase from our primary suppliers, we do not expect we would face difficulties in locating another supplier at substantially the same price. We have secure and efficient access to all the raw materials necessary to produce customers’ products saving them the trouble of sourcing from several distributors. We believe our relationships with the suppliers of these raw materials are strong. While the prices of such raw materials may vary greatly from time to time, we believe we could hedge such risk by adjusting our price or absorb the higher cost at times if necessary.
| Fiscal Year | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of | % of Cost | |
| Vendor Name | Revenue (USD) | of Revenue |
| A | $1,635,124 | 19.89% |
| B | $1,321,889 | 16.08% |
| C | $1,138,814 | 13.85% |
| Total | $4,095,827 | 49.82% |
| Fiscal Year | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of | % of Cost | |
| Vendor Name | Revenue (USD) | of Revenue |
| A | $1,467,381 | 17.38% |
| B | $1,439,569 | 17.05% |
| C | $1,224,113 | 14.50% |
| Total | $4,131,063 | 48.93% |
Quality Control Policies
We have a strict quality control process centered around the handling, storage, and expiry dates of our chemical raw materials before they are delivered to our customers. All products supplied by us are attached with a Certificate of Analysis ("COA") issued by manufacturers. COA contains the batch numbers, test result data, and manufacturing date. There are also labels on the packaging of our products stating the production date and batch number.
Competition
Based on the information provided by our customers and suppliers, Malaysia's industrial chemical market size is approximately USD 50 million per annum, and our current market share is around 20% of the domestic market. In the wider Southeast Asian region, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia, we rely on close relationships with our distributors to distribute our product to customers. As a result, the market size of the Southeast Asian market is USD 500 million per annum, and our current market share is around 2.0% of the Southeast Asian market.
As Chemrex's clients are primarily in Malaysia, we consider Chemrex's principal competitors to be in the Malaysian domestic market for selling chemical raw materials. Chemex's competitors include Kaliba Sdn.Bhd. ("Kaliba"), Myeast Sdn.Bhd. and RP Product Sdn.Bhd. Some of these competitors, such as Kaliba, may have greater resources than us. They are leading providers of Fibreglass reinforced materials such as Polyester Resin, Chopped Strand Mat, and Woven Roving, many of which overlap with our product offerings.
Additionally, most of the chemical raw materials we distribute are made to industry standard specifications and either produced by or available from multiple sources. Our suppliers may also distribute directly or through multiple chemical distributors. Even for products that are unique in formulation or other characteristics, there are typically other products available that are functional substitutes, such as natural plant fiber products, such that we face significant competition even where we are the exclusive distributors of a specialty product. Hence, our suppliers may also choose to limit their distribution outsourcing, particularly with respect to higher margin products, or to partner with other wholesalers or resellers for distribution, which could increase competition.
Competitive Advantages
Notwithstanding the competition, we are a well-established and are a reliable quality composite material distributor with professional services. In addition, we offer the following benefits to our existing and potential customers:
| · | Technical Expertise: Our technical staff, comprising two chemists and one engineer, are highly competent and familiar with the technical advancements in the FRP industry. They provide technical know-how on mixing various products and offer product suggestions or modifications to our customers, which may involve strengthening or enhancing existing products sold by our customers. |
| · | Pricing Advantage: As a prominent reseller of FRP products in the domestic market with significant market share, we distribute our products at a relatively higher volume than our competitors. Hence, we enjoy volume discounts from our suppliers, which we are able to pass on to our customers. As a result, prospective customers could incur higher prices if they purchase from some of our competitors. |
| · | Convenience: We provide a wide variety of over 100 FRP products. In contrast, some of our competitors might have a smaller product range. In addition, prospective customers could incur higher logistical costs if they purchase from many different sellers instead of relying on us as a one stop shop for all their business needs. |
| · | Sourcing New Raw Materials for Product Development: We source a broad range of raw materials worldwide. This global reach greatly expands our potential customer base and provides more opportunities for our existing customers to develop new products from a wider variety of raw materials. |
Growth Strategy
The composite raw materials market is expected to reach an estimated $40.2 billion by 2024 globally and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2019 to 2024. Furthermore, the composites end-user market is expected to reach an estimated $114.7 billion by 2024 globally. The major drivers for growth in this market are the increasing demand for lightweight materials in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Also, corrosion and chemical resistance materials are in demand in the construction and pipe and water tank industries. With our wide variety of product offerings, we are well-positioned to take advantage of this increase in chemical composite market demand.Source: Composites Market: Trends, Opportunities and Competitive Analysis (https://www.researchandmarkets.com/categories/chemicals-materials)
In the future, we intend to develop automated warehousing and logistics powered by artificial intelligence to guide our inventory control/movement and business decisions in a more streamlined and efficient manner. We also intend to deepen our ties with our major business partners, who have cooperated with us successfully for many years. We further intend to hire more young and talented professionals to open more domestic and foreign markets in an effort to implement and sustain business growth. We are constantly seek new products through various channels, such as trade shows, to add to our product line in an effort to expand our customer base. From 2023 to 2024, we are projecting 8% revenue growth, mainly driven by more orders for our raw materials from electric vehicle charging station manufacturers. From 2025 onwards, we are projecting that the growth rate will stabilize at 7%.
Regulatory Matters
We are unaware of and do not anticipate spending significant resources to comply with governmental regulations. We are subject to the laws and regulations of various jurisdictions in Malaysia.
Listed below are the licenses Chemrex currently holds to conduct its business in Malaysia.
| License/Permit/Approval | Holding entity | Issuing authority | Date of grant | Date of expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Importer Certificate | Chemrex | Department ofCustom | October 14, 2020 | Expired once the goodscleared from the Custom |
Product Liability
Due to the nature of Chemrex's business, we may face claims for product liability resulting from any environmental or personal injury because of the chemical raw materials sold by Chemrex. We currently do not hold any insurance should a claim arise.
MRNA Diagnostics Business
Through our wholly owned subsidiary, MRNA Scientific, we engage in the application of genomic testing to enable early disease diagnosis and support proactive health management.
MRNA Scientific's principal office address is Unit A-28-7, Level 28, Tower A, Menara UOA Bangsar, No.5 Jln Bangsar Utama 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our molecular genomic lab is located at Lab 353, Chemical Science Centre, University Science Malaysia, George Town, Penang, Malaysia, and we have a colon cancer and infectious diseases screening lab located at 4 th floor, Lifecare Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MRNA Scientific's telephone number is (+6018-2218762) and website is www.bionexusgenelab.com.
Our Non-invasive Blood Tests
MRNA Scientific develops and markets safe, effective, and non-invasive blood tests designed to detect diseases at early stages. These tests aim to reduce treatment costs and improve patient outcomes.
Our blood-based assays analyze changes in ribonucleic acid (RNA) to assess specific risks and detailed aspects of an individual’s health condition. These tests currently screen for:
| · | Eight types of cancer: nasopharyngeal, lung, liver, stomach, breast, cervical, prostate, and colon; |
| · | Two inflammatory bowel diseases: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; |
| · | Osteoarthritis; |
| · | Cardiovascular and neurological risks, including heart attack, stroke, and mental disorders (added in 2023/2024). |
We believe our genomic screening can enhance the accuracy of traditional diagnostic procedures such as imaging and biopsies, serving as a valuable complementary tool.
We generate revenue by screening blood samples collected by third-party healthcare providers including doctors, labs, and hospitals using proprietary biomarkers developed in-house. We believe MRNA Scientific is currently the only commercial molecular lab in Malaysia offering RNA-based diagnostic testing for cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and osteoarthritis, using a GeneChip platform certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our screening results also support personalized medicine by informing customized therapies tailored to each patient’s risk profile.
Development of Screening Process
Our late co-founder, Dr. Choong-Chin Liew, pioneered a novel approach to RNA-based diagnostics by identifying circulating blood biomarkers that reflect tissue-level disease processes. His research demonstrated that gene expression in peripheral blood can change in response to injury or illness, providing molecular insight into disease states.
These expression profiles, or molecular signatures, serve as the foundation for our diagnostic assays. By identifying disease-specific gene activity patterns, we can develop screening tools that enable early detection, monitor disease progression, and support precision interventions.
We take advantage of profiling these changes, which enables us to identify unique molecular signatures (biomarkers) reflecting disease activity which can then be used to develop disease-specific molecular diagnostic assays. We use these biomarkers as the basis for screening tests for early disease detection and generate revenue from providing screening services.
The Screening Process
Our screening process begins with a blood sample. While we do not perform direct sample collection, a licensed healthcare provider draws approximately 2.5 ml of blood from the patient using a PAXgene™ tube. The sample, along with a completed Blood Withdrawal Card, is securely delivered to our laboratory via certified courier.
Upon arrival:
| · | Samples are labeled with the patient’s name, ID number, and lab reference code. |
| · | RNA is extracted in a biosafety cabinet, then processed using microcentrifugation and spectrophotometry to assess quality and concentration. |
| · | RNA is purified, biotinylated, hybridized onto a GeneChip™ microarray, and analyzed using proprietary software to generate a personalized risk score report. |
Our reports are delivered to the referring healthcare provider for clinical use. These include a disease risk chart and interpretations intended to aid further diagnostics and therapeutic planning.
The process for effectuating RNA analysis depicted in the picture below.
The raw data obtained will be analyzed and quality control processed by our lab in Malaysia using proprietary software to calculate the risk analysis of 11 different diseases. We simplify the result into a graph which is contained in the patient booklet provided to the health care professional. A sample graph is depicted below.
In the above chart, NPC is Nasopharyngeal Cancer, ATDS is Ascending, Transverse, Descending, and Sigmoid Colon Cancer, and OA is Osteoarthritis.
The following cautionary text is contained in the results booklet we provide to the healthcare provider and each patient. The results booklet contains recommendations to assist with a physician's final diagnosis and treatment plan and is not meant to be medical advice. Below is the disclaimer that is included in each result booklet.
This report/screening is not intended or implied as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnostics, or treatment. The content, including text, graphics, and information in the report, illustrates the risk score only. MRNA Scientific Sdn. Bhd. makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information, as such information and contents are subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to review any medical condition or treatment with your doctor.
The key proprietary aspect of our process is our algorithm software, biomarkers, and the RNA extraction, preservation, quality control, hybridization, and data analysis processes developed by Dr. Liew. First, the gene expression from a reference population representing a specific disease condition is filtered using a quality assurance process based on repeatability data. Our proprietary algorithm software then analyzes this collected data and processes checked by the laboratory manager to ensure all the steps are followed in the deriving predictive model for each disease condition. Once these models have been established, they can be applied to the data from a new sample to make risk predictions for this individual. Each disease/disorder has a similar group of diseased/disordered genes identified through years of our research and clinical trials in Malaysia.
Customer Service and Quality Control Policies
We envision this division of our business to provide high-quality screening tests. Our competitive advantage lies in our turnaround time, expert interpretation, and easy-to-understand reports with timely clinical decision-making. In addition, we are dedicated to continuous quality improvement in our services and is committed to sensitivity and specificity priorities on each test.
We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of patient information and to compliance with all privacy, security, and electronictransaction requirements of the Health Medical Act and Regulations and Code of Professional Conduct of the Malaysian Medical Council. Third parties requesting results, including any requests directly from the patient, are directed to the ordering facility. A copy of our screening test report includes reference ranges, interpretive comments, and footnotes. We submit test results electronically to healthcare providers, individual clients, and/or the Malaysian Health Ministry (HHS) regarding reportable diseases. Clients are responsible for compliance with CDC-specific statutes concerning reportable conditions. Patient test results are retained indefinitely.
All samples handled by our laboratory are treated as though they are infectious. The greatest dangers to healthcare workers exposed to bloodand body fluids are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV viruses. Our laboratory turnaround time is monitored closely and compared to standardized laboratory metrics for continuous quality improvement. Laboratory scientists and technologists are all highly experienced in handling complex tests. Our scientists, and our supervisors monitor performance indicators for all laboratory services. Performance improvement initiatives are regularly instituted and reviewed as part of an ongoing quality improvement program.
Business Development and Growth Strategy
In April 2017, we began marketing our screening services to healthcare providers, laboratories, and hospitals, all of which have licensed doctors or staff*.As mentioned above, our screening service provides a risk analysis report of 11 diseases, of which eight are different forms of cancer. In *Malaysia, the cost of the analysis is not covered by health insurance. Thus, patients are required to pay out of pocket for our services, which currently range from $200 for a single colon cancer screening to $975 for all 11 diseases under our screening protocol.
In November 2017, we expanded our marketing efforts to companies, business organizations, and insurance agents. As a result of these efforts, during November and December 2017, we entered arrangements with two companies in Kuala Lumpur to screen their employees for 11 diseases/disorders (lung cancer, colon cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis & Crohn’s disease), and osteoarthritis pursuant to which each company paid us $50,000. We completed the screening process of these two companies in the first quarter of 2019 and continue to market our services to other local companies in the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area. In 2022, we had entered an arrangement with a clinical lab to conduct screening for the 11 diseases.
Our pricing strategy is consistent with our objectives, costs, competition, and demand for the product. Our management administers the policies to match the market needs. We charge the following prices to individuals for our tests:
| · | $200 for Colon Cancer Screening (Single Colon Cancer screening per blood sample) |
| · | $975 for Blood-based Genomic Signature (BGS) Screening for 11 diseases/disorders (Molecular RNA Cancer Screening per blood sample) |
The price for each test charged to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare operators is subject to an incentive-based rebate that ranges from 20% to 25% based on the monthly volume of tests conducted.
As of December 31st, 2023, we work with 27 liquid biopsy sample collection centers, 12 in Klang Valley (comprised of our capital city Kuala Lumpur) and towns on the northern and southern fringes of the capital city), and 15 public hospitals and labs nationwide. These 27 locations account for approximately 90% of our patient population in 2022 and 2021.
We aim to have more healthcare providers in the Klang Valley referring patients to us for screening protocol. Once we have established our brand and reputation in Klang Valley, we will expand to other large cities in Malaysia. In 2024 we signed agreements that allow for the expansion of our services to outsourcing with screening providers and large healthcare groups. It is the intention that these agreements will form the basis for increased revenue growth and profitability in the future.
Some prevalent cancer cases in Malaysia from Globocan 2020 endorsed by WHO
Cancer screening costs from a diagnostic center is priced at $882 (RM3,880) as compared to MRNA screening at $432 (RM1,900), quantity genechip purchase would drastically reduce the screening cost.
We believe that an increase in our marketing and promotional efforts will correlate to increased revenues and the expansion of our business. Our growth and expansion strategies are as follows:
| · | Continue to leverage our relationships with healthcare providers. To date, we have relied upon the efforts of management and their relationships with healthcare providers to create continued interest in our blood-based genomic screening. These relationships have been located primarily in the Klang Valley market. In 2024, it will be our priority to not only increase the number of healthcare providers that are able to offer our services through partnership, but we are in the process of developing a referral system to allow an expanded network of healthcare providers to promote our “ BGS “ testing via referring them to an existing sample collection site. |
| · | Allocate more capital resources to our marketing efforts. Apart from sales through existing relationships with healthcare providers, we intend to allocate more capital to marketing and promotion. Our current strategy proposes to increase the awareness of our “ BGS “ testing to the public, via direct marketing through wellness and healthcare key opinion leaders (“KOL”). We are currently in talks with various successful parties and wellness providers in the Klang Valley area to form partnerships on public awareness. |
| · | Increase focus on corporate clients. To date, we have entered arrangements with six corporate clients to provide our 11 diseases/disorders screening services to their employees. In addition, we intend to solicit more corporate clients in the Klang Valley and major cities in Malaysia. We commenced these efforts last year and will continue in 2024. Our officers and the Marketing Companies will undertake these efforts. |
| · | Expand to other regions in Malaysia. We intend to expand to other large cities in Malaysia, such as Penang, Ipoh, Seremban, Melaka, Johor Bahru, and Kuantan. |
| · | Expand to other international regions. We have been in discussions with key market access experts and professionals in Europe to explore the possibility of offering our screening products in Europe. Additionally, we are in the midst of discussing the terms of a partnership with one of the largest testing, screening, and genetic sequencing providers in Hong Kong for the purposes of expanding our services to Hong Kong. |
Competition
We believe that we have the only commercial molecular lab in Malaysia that provides liquid biopsy screenings that detect the risk of cancer, inflammatory diseases, and osteoarthritis risk via RNA biomarkers and provides a report which patients and physicians can use to plan for future tests and personalized therapies. Based on prior private conversations with the USA Thermo Fisher representative in Malaysia, there is a medical lab using similar equipment on DNA screening.
Competitive Strengths
We believe that we have several competitive strengths compared to these other health diagnostic tools. They are as follows:
| · | Our screening (a simple blood draw) is less invasive, unlike tissue biopsies. A tissue biopsy is a procedure in which a physician removes a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from a patient's body to be analyzed in a laboratory. If a patient experiences certain signs and symptoms or the physician has identified an area of concern, he may undergo a biopsy to determine whether the patient has cancer or another ailment. While biopsies can have higher accuracy, it is a more invasive procedure that is difficult to repeat and thus impractical for periodic monitoring. Our screening tests are a form of liquid biopsy which utilizes RNA biomarkers. Broadly speaking, a liquid biopsy is the collection of a body fluid sample to test for relevant biomarkers to inform patient management, most applied to the collection of peripheral blood for analysis of cell-free circulating tumor ribonucleic acids (RNA). Since liquid biopsies are performed on peripheral blood, which is easy to access, it allows for more widespread use, particularly in patients who cannot have surgery. As a result, liquid biopsies can reduce the time to treatment, improve the efficiency of medical staff and resources, and be used to screen more diseases. |
| · | Non-DNA blood tests for diseases like cancer are not dispositive. There currently exist various examinations to detect diseases in patients. For example, abnormally high or low levels of certain substances in your body can be a sign of disease. Testing of blood, urine or other body fluids that measure these substances can help doctors make a diagnosis. However, abnormal lab results are not a sure sign of disease. Conventional blood tests are an important tool but are not always reliable because of low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. |
| · | Other conventional tests could require a longer turnaround time. Imaging is a procedure in which physicians utilize pictures of areas inside the body that help the doctor see whether a disease is present. These images can be taken in several ways, including a CT scan, Nuclear Scan, MRI, PET Scan, and Ultrasound. Imaging is useful in providing physicians with real-time images to assist with diagnosis. However, imaging techniques can have longer turnaround times, the information provided can be limited, and the patient may be exposed to radiation. |
| · | Our screening provides a predictive risk assessment for developing the 11 diseases. Most other screening procedures detect diseases only when they are already present in the body and most cases, in the final stages of the disease, making it difficult to treat or reverse. Our screening can detect the 11 diseases at an earlier stage before any symptoms even appear. Early detection and targeted medical intervention could be crucial in saving patients' lives and financial resources. |
| · | Our screening measures the current risk of a specific individual rather than their lifetime risk. DNA tests measure a specific individual's lifetime risk based on their DNA. However, since DNA does not change with external factors, it cannot quantify an individual's specific risk of the disease materializing. However, our RNA-based test is highly specific since RNA expression changes with lifestyle and other external factors. Hence, at-risk patients can make timely adjustments to their lifestyles to reduce the potentiality of these diseases. Lifestyle adjustments may include reduction or changes to food, tobacco, and alcohol intake, change of working environment, and the implementation of exercise programs, among other changes. |
Seasonality
The nature of our business does not appear to be affected by seasonal variations.
Regulatory Matters
We are unaware of and do not anticipate spending significant resources to comply with governmental regulations. We are and will be subject to the laws and regulations of those jurisdictions in which we operate. Generally, business licensing requirements, income taxes, and payroll taxes apply to all business operations. The development and operation of our business are not subject to special regulatory and/or supervisory requirements. We only require an operating permit from the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which we have received. However, we cannot predict whether we would be able to comply with other regulations if implemented.
Product Liability
Due to the nature of our business, we may face claims for product liability resulting from the inaccurate or erroneous diagnosis using our screening* *process. MRNA Scientific does not currently have insurance against any such claims.
Research and Development
Our research and development budget over the years is listed in the following table:
| Research & | |
|---|---|
| Development | |
| Year | (self-funded) |
| 2020 | $45,000 |
| 2021 | $45,000 |
| 2022 | $173,300 |
| 2023 | $54,982 |
| 2024 | $47,511 |
Our Properties
The corporate office for MRNA Scientific is located at Unit A-28-7, Level 28, Tower A, Menara UOA Bangsar, No.5 Jln Bangsar Utama 1, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The lease commenced on June 1, 2024 and terminates on May 31, 2027, with option to extend till May 31, 2029. The space consists of 2,206 square feet with an annual rent of approximately $30,190.
We also have two laboratories. One of our laboratories is located at 4 th Floor, Wisma Life Care, No. 5, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The lease commenced on November 1, 2016 and terminates on October 31, 2023 but continues on a month to month basis. The annual rent is approximately $6,563. The other laboratory is located at Lab 353, University Science Malaysia, George Town, Penang, Malaysia. The lease commenced on December 1, 2017 and terminates on November 30, 2026. The space consists of 1,500 square feet with an annual rent of approximately $32,257.
On July 2, 2012, we purchased a 25,000 sq. ft wholesale distribution center at 4, Jalan CJ 1/6, Kawasan Perusahaan Cheras Jaya, 43200 Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia, and two investment properties for $1,395,210. The two investment properties are listed below.
| · | A 1,100 sq ft condominium located at No. B-17-03, Duet Residence, Jalan Kinrara 6, Bandar Kinrara, 47180 Puchong, Selangor, purchased on August 26, 2020; |
| · | A 2,000 sq ft commercial building located at First floor, No. 2B Pelangi Avenue, Jalan Kelicap 42A/KU1, Klang Bandar, Diraja, 41050 Klang, Selangor purchased on September 21, 2020. |
On July 1, 2024, we entered into a lease for Lot 238 and 239, Jalan Villaraya 1/9, Kawasan Industri Villaraya, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor. The lease terminates on June 30, 2025, with an option to extend for one year. The purpose of this lease is to establish a manufacturing facility for a new high-quality color paste production line.
On January 16, 2025, we entered into a lease for the unit at No. 65, Jalan CJ4/15-1A, Taman Cheras Jaya, 43200 Cheras, Selangor. The lease terminates on January 15, 2026. The purpose of this lease is to provide housing accommodation for our warehouse staff.
Intellectual Property
As of date of this filing, we have 1 trademark registered with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia. We do not have any patents, copyright, or licensing rights. Additionally, for MRNA Scientific, we rely on trade secrets and know-how using the process developed by and assigned to the Company by Dr. Liew, one of Our Founders. However, there is no assurance that others will not independently develop the same or similar technology or obtain unauthorized access to such trade secrets, know-how, and other unpatented technology. To protect our rights in these areas, we require all laboratory managers that work in our lab to enter into strict confidentiality agreements.
As part of our on-going software development process that has been supplemented by our Initial Public Offering, we are in the process of developing from the original source code, a Cloud Based (SaaS) implementation and evolutionary development of our Machine Learning sample analysis software. We are working with additional experts in the field, via contract and with the view to expand our internal team, and this work is being overseen by our CEO, Mr. Su-Leng Tan Lee, who has a background in Computer Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.
While we have attempted to protect the unpatented proprietary technology that we develop or acquire and will continue to attempt to protect future proprietary technology through patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, we believe that our success will depend, to a large extent, upon continued innovation and technological expertise.
Employees
As of date of this filing, Chemrex has 21 full-time employees, and MRNA Scientific has 9 full time employees. We believe we have good relations with our employees. The company presently is covered by social security insurance and contributes to the Employee Provident Fund of its employees, a compulsory pension scheme for all Malaysian citizens and permanent residents who are working in Malaysia.
The following table sets out the number of Chemrex's employees, excluding external experts, categorized by functions as of the date of this filing:
| Number of | |
|---|---|
| Function | Employees |
| Director | 5 |
| Sales & Marketing | 4 |
| Warehouse | 6 |
| Administration & Purchaser | 2 |
| Finance | 2 |
| Production | 2 |
| Total | 21 |
The following table sets out the number of MRNA Scientific's employees, excluding external experts, categorized by functions as of the date of this filing:
| Number of | |
|---|---|
| Function | Employees |
| Director | 2 |
| Finance | 1 |
| Lab Operation | 1 |
| Research & Development | 1 |
| Marketing & Business Development | 3 |
| General & Administration | 1 |
| Total | 9 |
The following table sets out the number of BGLC's employees, excluding external experts, categorized by functions as of the date of this filing:
| Number of | |
|---|---|
| Function | Employees |
| Chief Executive Officer | 1 |
| Administrative Staffing | 1 |
| Total | 2 |
Currently*,* we have entered into employment agreements with our officers. We do not have stock options, profit sharing, or similar benefit plans. However, as appropriate after our Initial Public Offering, the Company plans to table at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders an Equity Compensation Plan that will assist the Company to align the interests of its Key Personnel with the success of the Company, improving employee retention and paving the way for growth in Shareholder value. The Company is currently exploring multiple methods to expand its Executive Team, including advertising and engaging with specialist recruitment agencies to bolster our human capital and business development resources.
** Insurance**
For our Chemrex operations, we maintain third-party liability insurance to cover claims in respect of personal injury or property or environmental damage arising from accidents on our chemical warehouse and office or relating to our operations. Our employees presently are covered by Social Security insurance (SOCSO) and retirement fund (EPF). We do not maintain business interruption insurance or key person insurance. Our insurance coverage is consistent with the industry and sufficient to cover our key assets, facilities, and liabilities. Also, as part of our Chemrex business, we maintain burglary and fire insurance for our property at 4, Jalan CJ 1/6, Kawasan Perusahaan Cheras Jaya, 43200 Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia, and fidelity guarantee insurance against our employees.
We are not subjected to nor engaged in any litigation, arbitration, or claim of material importance, and no litigation, arbitration, or claim of material importance is known to us to be pending or threatened by or against our Company that would have a material adverse effect on our Company's results of operations or financial condition.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.