Seegene Signs New License Agreement for DPO™ and TOCE™ Technologies

Seegene Inc., a leading developer of multiplexed molecular technologies and diagnostic tests, today announced that bioMérieux S.A. has licensed the company's DPO™ and TOCE™ technologies for the development of multiplexed tests for food safety testing. bioMérieux is the world leader in food testing. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The increased prevalence of foodborne illnesses is driving regulators and the food industry to advance food safety testing from pathogens to virulence genes detection.

"We are excited to collaborate with bioMérieux, the leading player in the food testing market, to develop the next generation of high-value, multiplexed molecular diagnostic food safety tests. We believe that the adoption of our leading multiplexing technology will curtail future food contamination outbreaks, save lives and help to grow this important market," said Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, founder, CTO and CEO of Seegene.

According to the Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States, 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

Among the 31 known foodborne pathogens:
• Nontyphoidal Salmonella, Toxoplasma, Listeria, and norovirus caused the most deaths;
• Nontyphoidal Salmonella, norovirus, Campylobacter, and Toxoplasma caused the most hospitalizations; and
• Norovirus caused the most illnesses.