“The virus spreads very fast. Need to respond appropriately after identifying the type”
In the News Reporter Nam Gung-gyeong ㅣ Seegene (CEO Chun Jong-yoon), a specialized molecular diagnostic company, has developed a diagnostic kit that can identify major mutant viruses at once with its own technology. The company has a policy to promptly promote the diagnostic kit with the priority of CE approval, which can proceed without a separate clinical trial.
According to Seegene on the 1st, the product developed this time is’Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 Variants Ⅰ Assay’, which can detect and distinguish not only the existing Corona 19 virus gene, but also multiple Corona 19 mutant virus genes with a single test.
Seegene’s patented technology and know-how technologies were applied to the diagnostic kit, and patented technology that can detect multiple target mutant viruses at once based on artificial intelligence (AI) oligo design technology was also applied.
Accordingly, ▲existing coronavirus ▲Corona 19 virus mutation from UK ▲Corona 19 virus mutation from South Africa ▲Other mutations (from Japan, Brazil, etc.) and new types of new mutations. The company explained that it can be found out.
An official from Seegen said, “In the case of Corona 19, there are various types of mutations and the spreading speed is fast, so Seegene’s innovative diagnostic kit that can distinguish multiple mutant viruses with a single test can contribute to blocking the rapid spread of mutations. “It is a feature of the product that you can know not only the previously known British and South African mutations, but also whether another type of mutation virus has occurred.”
In the case of mutant viruses, the transmission speed is fast, so it is required to quickly identify the type and respond appropriately. According to NERVTAG, a respiratory virus advisory group composed of experts in UK infectious diseases, mutations originating in the UK are reported to be 71% faster on average than the existing Corona 19 virus.
In addition, according to data released by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in South Africa, it is known that mutant viruses originating in South Africa are likely to neutralize the vaccine’s effectiveness. For this reason, there are voices that it is necessary to accurately and quickly determine the type of mutant virus in order to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine and to develop a vaccine suitable for a new mutant virus.
Until now, the diagnosis of Corona 19 has been carried out by determining the presence of virus infection or antibody formation through PCR or antigen/antibody testing. In other words, it is difficult to establish measures to block the rapid spread of mutations because it is possible to know if it is infected with Corona 19, but it is not possible to know if the virus has mutated.
In particular, in the case of rapid antigen/antibody testing, it is known that it is currently very difficult to distinguish technically whether a virus has mutated. In addition, the PCR test method is the only one that can distinguish the presence or absence of mutations, but the general PCR method has the disadvantage that it takes a lot of time to distinguish various types of mutant viruses with a single test.
An official from Seegen said, “According to the recent WHO announcement, the COVID-19 mutation from the UK has already been found in 70 countries around the world, and the mutation from South Africa has spread to 31 countries, increasing by 8 countries from a week ago.” In order to quickly block the spread of the virus, we are trying to fulfill our responsibilities as a global molecular diagnostic company by providing this product to government agencies in each country.”