'NGeneBio NGS tech realizes customized treatment, early detection of rare diseases'

NGeneBio said it plans to realize the era of personalized treatment by adding companion diagnosis, liquid biopsy, and AI technology to next-generation sequencing (NGS), which has revolutionized cancer and rare diseases diagnosis.

NGS is the latest technology to mass-produce DNA sequence data and analyze it with bioinformatics algorithms. Experts consider NGS a key technology in precision medicine that realizes customized treatment by examining and diagnosing the presence or absence of mutations in genes related to various diseases with a single test.

NGeneBio is the first Korean company to provide a precise diagnosis solution that combines an NGS test panel and analysis software that detects individual genetic mutations related to diseases by establishing a precision diagnosis platform that combines biotechnology and information technology.

NGeneBio CEO Choi Dae-chul unveils the company's plans for the NGS market during a news conference at the Plaza Hotel Seoul on Wednesday.

"Precision medicine is the hottest topic in the medical world, and it is important to provide accurate diagnostic information about the patient's condition," NGeneBio CEO Choi Dae-chul said during a media briefing on Wednesday. "The company is contributing to increasing the success rate of individual treatment in the clinical field using precision diagnosis panel and analysis software."

Professor Kim Myung-shin of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital talked about the increase in NGS use in the cancer field and its importance.

Professor Kim Myung-shin at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital stresses the importance of NGS technology.

"The area where precision medicine is most actively applied is cancer treatment based on NGS precision diagnosis," Professor Kim said. "Breast and ovarian cancer are the typical examples of customized treatment, and the NGS method helps physicians detect cancer early and determine best treatment option."

NGS technology also plays an important role in treating blood cancers such as leukemia, she added.

Professor Kim predicted that NGS testing would become more active in the medical field where cancer patients continue to increase.

According to NGeneBio, the global NGS market will grow at an average annual rate of 20.5 percent to reach about 10 trillion won ($8.4 billion) in 2024.

The company vowed to position itself as a leading company in the NGS field, expanding its scope to companion diagnostics and liquid biopsy.

"We are the only company in Korea that has received approval for NGS diagnostic products for various types of cancer," said Kim Kwang-jung, head of NGeneBio’s Research Center. "We have the vision to preoccupy the market by developing products, including companion diagnostics and liquid biopsy."

Companion diagnostics selects patients who show positive responses to a specific treatment based on biomarkers, maximizing treatment effects and minimizing side effects.

Based on the company's R&D capabilities, NGeneBio will actively advance into the expanded diagnostic area and strive to increase the benefits of precision medical care, Kim said.