-      Early diagnosis technology detecting Alzheimer's disease -related microRNAs in blood

-      Pursuing commercialization of Alzheimer's disease early diagnosis products and testing services in the United States

On Sep 14th, NGeneBio, a company specializing in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based genomic analysis, announced that it has completed the US patent application for technology related to the diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative brain diseases based on fluid analysis.

The technology covered in this patent application allows for the diagnosis of dementia patients, including Alzheimer's disease, without the need for cerebrospinal fluid collection, unlike traditional diagnostic methods. It detects specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that uniquely increase in dementia patients. When the target biomarkers are detected, a fluorescent probe is used to quickly and accurately diagnose degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, in patients without discomfort.

NGeneBio applied for this patent to gain a foothold in the US Alzheimer's disease market, which is valued at approximately 2 trillion won. They plan to develop products that combine the previously patented biomarkers for Parkinson's disease dementia and Lewy body dementia, applying algorithms for the classification and early diagnosis of various types of dementia using AI.

In addition to product development, NGeneBio plans to set up Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) services in the CLIA lab (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Lab) they are in the process of acquiring. This will enable the commercialization of dementia early diagnosis tests alongside NGS-based precision cancer diagnostics in the US market.

CEO of NGeneBio Choi Dae-chul stated, "We will continue to commercialize core technologies such as early diagnosis of dementia, which is a representative disease in the aging population, companion diagnostics for predicting the efficacy of anticancer drugs and treatment outcomes, and liquid biopsy-based prognostic diagnosis." He further added, "Through our ongoing acquisition of a US-based CLIA lab and NGeneBioAI, our US subsidiary, we will actively target the rapidly growing data-driven AI diagnostics market in the US."

It is worth noting that NGeneBio previously signed an agreement in May to receive technology related to the diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) and the Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation of Konyang University.

US Alzheimer's Market Size: Approximately $1.6 billion in 2020 / Source: ResearchAndMarket

Global Alzheimer's Market Size: Approximately $6.3 billion in 2020, with an annual growth rate of 6.5% / Source: MARC