South Korean molecular diagnostics firm Seegene has announced the completion of a partnership agreement with diagnostic company Werfen, for a new technology sharing initiative. Under the agreement, Seegene and Werfen will establish a NewCo in Spain, Werfen-Seegene.
This partnership is part of the dynamic technology sharing initiative, which includes the first NewCo partnership in March 2023 with Hylabs, a leading diagnostics company in Israel.
Werfen-Seegene will be established upon obtaining the required government approvals, expected in the first half of 2025.
The technology sharing initiative aims to share Seegene’s advanced diagnostic and data analysis technologies globally, including real-time syndromic PCR tests and an automated product development system (SGDDS), with a leading partner company in each country. Seegene’s real-time syndromic PCR technology represents a breakthrough in molecular target detection. It can simultaneously detect up to 14 pathogens in a single reaction tube, with quantitative information for each target.
The partner companies will collaborate with local scientists and experts to develop diagnostic tests tailored to the needs of their communities and fields, covering a wide range of human and non-human diseases. Werfen-Seegene will prioritise the development of products for infectious diseases, including antimicrobial and drug resistance tests, viral load tests, surveillance tests for organ transplant patients, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emerging diseases specific to the region. NewCo will leverage Werfen’s extensive local infrastructure and network to provide products tailored to local needs, contributing to healthcare in Spain.
As the fourth largest European in vitro diagnostic (IVD) market, Spain is poised to serve as a strategic hub for this expansion. Therefore, NewCo is expected to lead efforts to obtain In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (CE-IVDR) approval and expand into European and global markets.
Carlos Pascual , CEO of Werfen, explained: “Over the past decade, our collaboration with Seegene has demonstrated the significant impact of its syndromic PCR testing on healthcare. We are excited to leverage Seegene’s unmatched technology and manufacturing expertise to develop products tailored to the Spanish and Portuguese markets, which are experiencing high demand for rapid product development due to the frequent emergence of new infectious diseases and viral mutations. Through this partnership with Seegene, we will be able to expand our presence and respond rapidly to any outbreak.”
“We have high expectations for this NewCo, which will combine Werfen’s extensive commercial experience with Seegene’s advanced syndromic product development and manufacturing capabilities,” added Dr Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO and Founder of Seegene. “We will continue to share our technology with leading international companies and countries interested in our technology sharing initiative. Werfen-Seegene will play a vital role in accelerating the global expansion of our initiative,” he continued.
Seegene has also entered into major strategic partnerships for this initiative with Microsoft and Springer Nature. The goal of the partnership with Microsoft is to enable global companies participating in the technology sharing initiative to have a streamlined product development system, enhanced by advanced IT system operations and AI-powered data analytics. Springer Nature is driving innovation in PCR diagnostic products through its Open Innovation Program (OIP), which was launched in 2023, followed by the Nature Awards MDx Impact Grants in 2024. It plans to expand and advance this program to help NewCos collaborate with local scientists and experts to develop innovative products in broad areas.