Korea's Seegene to set up new company in Spain to share diagnostic technologies

Seegene Inc., a leading South Korean company providing a total solution for PCR molecular diagnostics, has announced the finalisation of a partnership agreement with Werfen, a worldwide leader in specialised diagnostics, on the technology-sharing initiative.

Under the agreement, Seegene and Werfen will set up a new company (NewCo) in Spain, Werfen-Seegene, upon the conclusion of mandatory government approvals anticipated by the first half of 2025.

This partnership builds on the momentum of the technology-sharing initiative, which includes the first new company NewCo partnership in March 2023 with Hylabs, a leading diagnostic company in Israel.

The technology-sharing initiative aims to share Seegene's advanced diagnostic and data analysis technologies globally, including syndromic real-time PCR and an automated product development system (SGDDS), with a leading company partnered in each country. Seegene's syndromic real-time PCR technology represents a breakthrough in molecular target detection. It enables the simultaneous detection of up to 14 pathogens in a single reaction tube, with quantitative information for each target.  

Partnering companies will collaborate with local scientists and experts to develop diagnostic tests tailored to the needs of their communities and fields, spanning a wide range of human and non-human diseases. Amidst the challenges of climate change and the anticipated rise in outbreaks, the initiative's ultimate vision is to create 'a world free from diseases'—a future where people no longer suffer from infectious diseases and cancer and where animals and plants thrive without illness.

Werfen-Seegene will prioritise developing products for infectious diseases, including antimicrobial and drug resistance testing, viral load testing, monitoring tests for organ transplant patients, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and emerging diseases specific to the region. The NewCo will leverage Werfen's extensive local infrastructure and network to provide products tailored to meet local needs, thereby contributing to healthcare in Spain.