Researchers at Kogene Biotech Co. conduct tests on its reagent at its laboratory in Seoul on Feb. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) — After enjoying explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea’s test kit makers are exploring ways to diversify their business portfolio in a preemptive move to cope with the deterioration of their financial performance in the post-coronavirus era.
Seegene Inc., a major diagnostic assay maker in the country, unveiled a transportable testing center called the Mobile Station at a medical laboratory exhibition held last week in Dubai.
The Mobile Station is capable of testing up to 7,500 persons a day, while enabling test recipients to receive results just in 3.5 hours.
Some COVID-19 test kit makers are attempting to find a breakthrough by actively responding to COVID-19 variants that have been spreading rapidly across the world in recent days.
Two local drugmakers — Celltrion Inc. and Humasis Inc. — developed a new test kit that can detect variants from Britain, South Africa and Brazil.
In April, Seasun Biomaterials received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its brand-new testing kit that can diagnose both coronavirus and influenza.
In addition, efforts are underway to develop and expand kits that can be used for both diagnosis and testing of various diseases in addition to COVID-19.
Seegene developed a product that can diagnose not only COVID-19 but also other diseases including those affecting respiratory and digestive organs and cerebromeningitis.
Another COVID-19 testing kit maker, GeneSystem Co., is soon to commercialize an allergy and tuberculosis testing kit.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
