[미디어SR 이승균 기자] With the COVID-19 mutant virus spreading to more than 70 countries around the world, Seegene, a domestic molecular diagnostic company, has developed a diagnostic kit that can identify major mutant viruses at once.
Seegene announced on the 1st that it has developed a diagnostic kit to find out the suitability for four new types of mutant viruses, such as the existing coronavirus, the UK and South Africa virus, and the Japanese and Brazilian virus, from the collected samples in a single test.
Seegene’s product developed this time is’Allplex SARS-CoV-2 Variants Ⅰ Assay’, a diagnostic kit that can detect and distinguish not only the existing Corona 19 virus gene, but also a number of Corona 19 mutant virus genes with a single test.
The company explained that Seegene’s own patented technology and know-how technologies that accurately detect the part of the mutation in the virus gene are applied, so that the mutant virus species can be identified with high accuracy.
This diagnostic kit uses a patented technology that can detect multiple target mutant viruses at once based on artificial intelligence (AI) oligo design technology.
This kit is expected to play a key role in preventing the spread of mutant viruses by distinguishing the type of mutant as well as whether or not a virus is infected, as the kit can complete a large-volume automatic PCR test for suspected patients within 2 hours from the beginning.
An official from Seegen told Media SR, “As the rate of mutation and spread of the Corona 19 virus is increasing, tracking it is urgent.” Forecast.
He continued, “In order to quickly block the spread of the mutant virus that threatens people around the world, we intend to fulfill our responsibilities as a global molecular diagnostic company by providing this product first to governmental agencies.”
An official from the pharmaceutical bio industry told Media SR, “In the case of a new mutant virus, the production of neutralizing antibodies and treatment effects are likely to be different.” “I explained.
Earlier, Seegene received official approval in Korea from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 26th of last month for a simultaneous diagnosis kit that diagnoses various respiratory viruses including Corona 19 with a single test.