Following COVID-19... Accelerated Development of Diagnostic Technology for Monkeypox

Seegene and Bioneer Secure Technology for Detection Within 90 Minutes
Humasis Officially Pursues Development Targeting '50 Minutes'
Mico BioMed Registered Patent Last Year

Rapid Growth Like COVID-19 May Be Difficult

Bioneer’s monkeypox detection kit, 'AccuPower Monkeypox Detection Kit'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As monkeypox has been confirmed domestically and is spreading worldwide, domestic diagnostic device companies are rushing to develop monkeypox diagnostic technology.

According to the industry on the 29th, companies that have completed or are pursuing the development of monkeypox diagnostic technology include Seegene, Mico BioMed, Bioneer, and Humasis. Seegene announced yesterday that it has completed the development of the diagnostic reagent ‘Novaflex MPXV Assay.’ They have secured technology that can detect within 90 minutes. In particular, Seegene explained that they succeeded in rapid development through their proprietary AI-based reagent development automation system, the ‘Seegene Digitalized Development System (SGDDS).’

Bioneer also announced on the same day that it has completed the development of a research-use monkeypox detection kit. The ‘AccuPower Monkeypox Detection Kit’ detects infection by extracting and amplifying the virus’s DNA. The confirmation time is 90 minutes. The company stated, "We will first sell to hospitals and research institutes in countries where monkeypox is prevalent and then consider obtaining the European Conformity (CE) certification."

Humasis also officially announced the promotion of monkeypox diagnostic technology development yesterday. As they are still in the initial development stage and a latecomer, they aim to develop molecular diagnostic technology capable of infection detection within ‘50 minutes or less.’ The company also plans to complete the diagnostic kit development soon and launch it first in Europe.

A notice warning about 'Monkeypox Infectious Disease' is displayed on the monitor at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. [Image source=Yonhap News]

There is also a company that completed diagnostic technology development domestically even before monkeypox spread globally. Mico BioMed, with support from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, completed the development of gene amplification (PCR) technology capable of detecting 15 pathogens including monkeypox, brucella, and botulinum bacteria, and registered a patent last year.

However, the prevailing view is that monkeypox is unlikely to become another growth momentum for the diagnostic industry like the COVID-19 pandemic. An industry insider said, "There is only one patient domestically so far, and fundamentally, it is an infectious disease with a different transmission power from COVID-19. Even if it serves as preparation for other infectious diseases, it will not become a trigger for rapid growth like COVID-19."

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