Seegene Launches Strategic Push into Personalized Medicine

Seegene today launched its strategic push into personalized medicine by announcing a partnership with Samsung Medical Center to co-develop molecular diagnostics (MDx) for cancer. In this partnership Seegene will bring its molecular diagnostic technology leadership and Samsung Medical Center brings its clinical expertise and disease pathology to the development of new cancer MDx tests. Samsung Medical Center will also provide the first test sites for the tests. As part of Seegene's initiatives in personalized medicine, the company will also develop new tests for drug resistance and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP).

Seegene's new personalized medicine cancer tests will be based on its highly accurate and efficient multiplex PCR technology (DPO) and real-time PCR technology (READ), which will detect genetic mutations indicative of certain cancers. The initial tests to be developed will be for non small cell lung cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma.

In the clinic oncologists will use these new molecular diagnostic tests to determine the genomic profile of a patient's tumor to understand if the patient is likely to respond to cancer therapies, such as tamoxifen, or chemotherapy, or even if the cancer will return or metastasize.

Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO of Seegene, said, "Working with the world-class Samsung Medical Center, Seegene is well positioned to develop innovative new molecular diagnostics for cancer that will improve patient outcomes."

"The predictive power of molecular diagnostics is reshaping how cancer is treated. By determining which sets of genes and gene interactions affect different subsets of cancers, our tests will give doctors the information needed to prescribe the right treatment, for the right person at the right time," he added.

Dr. Do Hyun Nam, Head of Institute for Refractory Cancer Research, stated, "In order to cure cancers, it is necessary to diagnose the patient's genetic information in molecular level. By collaborating with Seegene, it is anticipated to increase the effectiveness of treatment through early diagnosis."