Seegene Unveils New Real-time PCR Analysis Technology, Drastically Increasing Its Multiplexing Capacity

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Seegene Inc. (096530.KQ), a leading developer of multiplex PCR technologies, today announced its proprietary technology, "MuCTtm". This is a real-time PCR based data acquiring and analyzing technology that increases its multiplexing capability per channel up to 5 Ct values, enabling it to run syndromic panel tests without changing the hardware.

The industry has relied on real-time PCR as the gold standard in molecular diagnostics because of its versatility, speed and ease of use. Despite many attempts over the past 30 years, the industry has not made significant advances that satisfy the growing demand for higher multiplexing and more reliable target quantification using limited numbers of channels in a single tube. Even now most of the PCR systems commercialized in the market still can detect only one Ct value (analyte) per channel.

Seegene developed MuDTtm technology, 4 years ago, in order to overcome the current technology barrier of one channel, one Ct value. This technology provides two Ct values per channel, simultaneously detecting up to 10 analytes on a 5-channel instrument.

Seegene continues to put its effort into further improvement of maximizing its multiplexing capability and finally has succeeded in developing the new technology, MuCTtm. It provides 5 Ct values in each color channel and detects up to 25 analytes per assay on a 5-channel instrument.

Seegene's approach has unique advantages over the competitors. MuCTtm technology allows customers to run "ultra-high" multiplex syndromic panels that can detect 100 analytes since one panel consists of 4 assays and each assay can provide up to 25 individual Ct values. Thus, the users can run full syndromic panel assays such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, meningitis, etc. in a single tube on a standard real-time PCR instrument, accommodating the feature of high throughput test volume.

Seegene has just completed a full process of the digitalized development system, SGDDS, including validation and verification. SGDDS automates a real-time PCR assay development process utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) based oligonucleotide design system which incorporates Seegene's novel algorithms and in silico oligonucleotide design with big data of causative agents for diseases. This advancement significantly reduces the time and labor required for R&D and simplifies complicated real-time PCR assay development processes.

According to Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO and Founder of Seegene, "We believe syndromic testing is the key component of accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate therapy. But many clinicians and laboratorians have difficulties in patient care due to the lack of high multiplex MDx assays." And he added, "The SGDDS allows us to conveniently develop customized syndromic panels with wide application area including infectious disease, oncology, and genetic disease, allowing users to select any molecular tests based on their needs. Our new MuCTtm technology and ultra-high multiplex assays will ignite a paradigm shift in the real-time PCR market."

About Seegene

Seegene (KQ: 096530) is the world's leading developer of multiplex molecular technologies and multiplex clinical molecular diagnostics (M-MoDx). Seegene's core enabling technologies - DPOtm, TOCEtm, and MuDTtm - are the foundation for M-MoDx tests that can simultaneously detect multiple targets with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. Seegene's products detect multi-pathogens with great reliability and throughput, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene's mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology using innovative proprietary technologies. For more information, please visit www.seegene.com.

SOURCE Seegene Inc.