3billion Becomes First Asian Partner of Genetic Alliance’s iHope Program

3billion has been selected as an official diagnostic partner of the iHope program, run by global rare disease patient organization Genetic Alliance. The company is the first Asian firm to join the program.

iHope is a global precision medicine initiative designed to improve diagnostic access and support treatment planning for patients with rare diseases. According to program research, using whole genome sequencing (WGS) as a first-line diagnostic tool in low-income countries yields a diagnosis rate of over 60% for rare diseases, with more than 70% of confirmed patients seeing a change in their treatment or management strategy.

Building on its experience delivering genetic diagnostic services across more than 75 countries and its AI-powered variant interpretation technology, 3billion plans to provide a robust precision diagnostic framework for pediatric rare disease patients in developing nations. The company aims to help reduce so-called “diagnostic odysseys” — the prolonged struggle patients face when moving from hospital to hospital without a definitive diagnosis.

Sharon Terry, CEO of Genetic Alliance, underscored the importance of partnering with organizations that combine technical excellence with global reach in order to end the diagnostic odyssey for children with rare diseases. She noted that 3billion’s addition as the official Asian partner marks a meaningful step toward strengthening the iHope diagnostic network and advancing equitable access to precision medicine worldwide.

CEO Chanwon Kum stated that it is deeply meaningful to contribute to global public health by extending 3billion’s AI-based genetic diagnostic services to patients who have been left outside the reach of precision medicine, and committed to continuing technical support so that every patient suspected of a rare disease — regardless of geographic or economic barriers — can find the right treatment path through accurate diagnosis.

3billion plans to build on this partnership to expand its role within the global rare disease diagnostic ecosystem and accelerate the international growth of its AI-based genetic diagnostic platform.

Image Credit: Positive Exposure – Wilhelm Foundation