Government Supports Companies Developing Omicron Diagnostic Devices and Expanding Overseas

Disease Control Agency Plans to Distribute a Total of 2,500 Clinical Specimens in January and February

On the 28th, medical staff collected samples from citizens at the temporary screening clinic at the Peace Gate Plaza in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the same day, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases was 3,865. The number of confirmed cases in the 3,000 range was recorded for the first time in 28 days since the 30th of last month (3,032 cases). Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The government is supporting domestic developers to develop Omicron COVID-19 variant diagnostic devices and to enter the global market with related products.

On the 28th at 4 p.m., the Ministry of Health and Welfare held an online briefing session to support companies developing COVID-19 Omicron variant virus diagnostic reagents and expanding overseas, targeting domestic in vitro diagnostic device companies. The ministry plans to provide various support measures, including securing clinical specimens, which companies find most challenging during the development process.

First, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to distribute a total of about 2,500 leftover COVID-19 positive specimens, including the Omicron variant, through the National Central Human Resources Bank starting January next year. The matching service between medical institutions holding specimens and development companies through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute's Medical Device Industry Comprehensive Support Center will also continue to operate next year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will conduct expedited reviews (processing period of 10 days) for Omicron diagnostic reagents intended for export and support exporters' market entry. Some approval review requirements will be relaxed to reduce the burden on development companies, such as recognizing data using specimens (clinical specimens, nucleic acids) distributed by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for manufacturers' own performance evaluations.

Through the Public Procurement Service, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), support will be provided for overseas export of diagnostic devices, including analysis and provision of overseas procurement demand information and export marketing. Research and development of in vitro diagnostic devices, including diagnostic reagents, will also be continuously promoted.

Lee Kang-ho, head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Global Vaccine Hub Promotion Team, stated, "The role of in vitro diagnostic devices that can quickly and accurately diagnose infection status is important to respond rapidly to the resurgence of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant." He added, "We will provide multifaceted support so that domestic companies can quickly develop related diagnostic kits and achieve great success in the global market, and actively identify and resolve companies' difficulties."

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