GenCurix "Lung Cancer Companion Diagnostic Product Adopted by Samsung Seoul Hospital and Over 10 General Hospitals in Korea"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Liquid biopsy molecular diagnostics specialist GenCurix announced on the 28th that it has confirmed the adoption of its self-developed lung cancer companion diagnostic product, ‘Jinswell ddEGFR (ddEGFR)’, at more than 10 general hospitals in Korea. The company is in discussions to introduce the product to several additional large general hospitals and plans to significantly expand the number of hospitals supplied by the end of the year.

The company stated, “Several major general hospitals including Samsung Seoul Hospital, Sinchon Severance Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, Konkuk University Hospital, and the National Cancer Center have confirmed the introduction of Jinswell ddEGFR alongside targeted anticancer therapies and have begun sequential deliveries. We have also signed a consignment contract with GC Green Cross Genomics, so the number of hospitals adopting the product is expected to increase rapidly.”

Jinswell ddEGFR is a test that detects the presence or absence of mutations in 46 epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Through this, it selects patients who respond to targeted anticancer drugs such as AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso and Roche’s Tarceva.

This product utilizes a third-generation platform, digital PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology, which offers significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to the conventional RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) method, and provides quantitative information. However, since health insurance coverage has been applied since early this year, the testing cost is at the same level as products using the existing RT-PCR method.

In particular, GenCurix has signed a consignment contract with GC Green Cross Genomics to facilitate adoption even by small and medium-sized hospitals that do not have digital PCR equipment and therefore cannot use the product. These hospitals can receive test results through GC Green Cross Genomics.

A GenCurix official said, “Companion diagnostics for targeted anticancer drugs have been mandated in many advanced countries including the United States, and mandatory implementation is expected soon in Korea as well. We will rapidly launch not only the recently marketed EGFR product but also follow-up products such as KRAS, BRAF, POLE, and C-MET, which have completed development, both domestically and internationally, to grow as a global leader in the companion diagnostics market.”

Meanwhile, following Jinswell ddEGFR, the company has developed the lung cancer target ‘Droplex EGFR Mutation Test v2’, the colorectal cancer target ‘Droplex KRAS Mutation Test’, and the thyroid cancer target ‘Droplex BRAF Mutation Test’, and received export approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.