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Molbio Diagnostics, an innovative point-of-care diagnostics company, has been awarded the KOCHON Prize 2024 by the Stop TB Partnership.

 
This recognition honours Molbio’s work in ensuring access to the latest tools, innovations, and approaches for people affected by tuberculosis (TB) and in advancing progress toward the UN High Level Meeting (UNHLM) targets. With this award, Molbio becomes the first private company globally—and only the third Indian entity after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Dr L S Chauhan—to receive this distinction.

 

Awarded annually by the Stop TB Partnership, the Kochon Prize recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to combating tuberculosis. Established by the Kochon Foundation in memory of its late chairman, Chong-Kun Lee, the award carries a prize of USD 65,000 and a medal, making it the world’s largest award specifically dedicated to TB.
 
The 2024 theme recognizes people, teams, or organizations that, day by day, demonstrate how to successfully ensure access for people with TB to the latest tools, innovations, and innovative approaches that are leading to impact on the UNHLM targets.
 
Truenat is a portable, battery-operated, real-time PCR system. The compact and portable nature of the platform ensures that diagnostic testing can be conducted without the need for extensive laboratory infrastructure, reliable electricity, power backup, or air conditioning.
 
Beyond TB, Truenat has been adapted for use in testing for other infectious diseases such as hepatitis, Covid, and HPV.
 
While public sector institutions such as ICMR have been previously recognized, Molbio is the first private innovator company worldwide to receive the Kochon Prize.
 
“Molbio is committed to expanding access to accurate, rapid, and cost-effective point-of-care technologies for diagnosing both infectious and non-communicable diseases. It is deeply fulfilling to see India’s indigenous innovation driving better health outcomes across the world. This recognition is a tribute to the unwavering dedication of our teams who have worked relentlessly to translate that vision into reality,” Dr Chandrashekhar Nair, chief technical officer, Molbio Diagnostics Limited.
 
“We express our sincere gratitude to the Government of India and the ICMR for their unwavering support and for endorsing the Truenat platform. We also extend our thanks to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global TB community for their trust and continued support in endorsing and adopting the platform. As a gesture of appreciation, Molbio is contributing the prize money back to the Stop TB Partnership — reaffirming our shared commitment to ensuring that communities affected by TB have a strong voice and active role in shaping and advancing TB programs worldwide.” Sriram Natarajan, executive director and chief executive officer, Molbio Diagnostics Limited
 
Molbio’s Truenat platform has been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the ICMR, and over 10,000 devices have been sold in over 80 countries as of March 31, 2025.
 
Molbio Diagnostics Limited is an innovative point-of-care diagnostics company focused on expanding access to accurate, rapid and cost-effective healthcare technologies to diagnose infectious and non-communicable diseases.