Gradient invests in Enbipostech, a specialized company in in vitro diagnostic medical devices

Acquisition of 23.1% Stake in NBFOSTEC

Gradient (CEO Ki-Hyung Lee) announced on the 30th that it has secured a 23.1% stake by participating in a paid-in capital increase of NB4STEC (CEO Jun-Won Park), a company specializing in in vitro diagnostic medical devices. Gradient is a newly launched company that changed its name after selling the e-commerce platform Interpark in April last year.

NB4STEC was founded in 2008 by Professor Jun-Won Park, a chemistry graduate from POSTECH. The company develops "liquid biopsy" technology that detects cancer genes in blood without gene amplification using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The AFM-based liquid biopsy technology allows testing even when tissue biopsy, which involves removing tissue for examination, is not possible, making it useful for monitoring cancer patients' recurrence and treatment.

AFM technology can diagnose the recurrence of thyroid cancer, which has a high recurrence rate, at an early stage. It is also expected to have high demand as a monitoring tool during treatment for various malignant tumors such as melanoma, metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and pediatric central nervous system cancers, thereby enhancing treatment effectiveness.

Through this investment, Gradient plans to support NB4STEC’s AFM technology in completing clinical and market validation both domestically and internationally. The two companies are also planning collaboration in utilizing precision diagnostic technology in the bio-research field.

Gradient Bio WG Group Leader Jin-Geun Lee said, "We decided to invest after recognizing the high value of NB4STEC’s AFM technology and the future-oriented nature of the precision diagnostics business. We expect this investment to be the cornerstone for Gradient’s entry into the precision diagnostics market."

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