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[Cover Story] CEO Sungwoo Kim of Nanobiosys
Introducing 'UltraFast LabChip Real-time PCR G2-4'
Detecting MERS in 30 minutes
Nanobiosys starting molecular diagnostics research in 2009
Quantitative Gene Diagnosis System to detect MERS in 30 minutes
Recent arrival of MERS in the Korean soil terrified the public with its deadly spread and fatality rate. This gave us a lesson on the importance of introducing a quick diagnosis and prevention system. In this respect, Nanobiosys' molecule diagnosis system drew a great attention from media.
Kim obtained a PhD in biology at Columbia University in New York in 1989, served as a research professor at Harvard Medical School and opened Nanobiosys in March 2009 based on his 20 years of experience in molecular biology, disease diagnosis, biosensor and bio Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems when he came back to Korea. He created his unique 'fast, accurate, simple and compact molecular diagnostic system' and has been leading the field. He introduced 'UltraFast LabChip Real-time PCR G2-4' and 'diagnostic reagent' to many hospitals in Korea that can detect MERS in 30 minutes. In fact, the molecular diagnostic system market in Korea is nominated by three global companies which are Applied Biosystems (US), Bio-Rad (US) and Roche (Switzerland). However, Kim proved that the domestic molecular diagnostic system is better than those three companies in terms of detection time which takes only 30 minutes compared to 2 to 3 hours of those global companies.
From obtaining patents in Korea, US and Japan to exporting to 27 countries
Application to diagnosis of infectious virus, biological virus and foodborne disease virus
Nanobiosys' 'UltraFast LabChip Real-time PCR G2-4' is a Lab-on-a-Chip based real time PCR that can reverse RNA to DNA (RT: Reverse-transcription) to amplify the gene by 100 billion times and it takes only 30 minutes to detect infectious virus accurately. Kim obtained related patents in Korea, US and Japan and has applied for a patent in China and European countries. Kim also developed 'MERS Diagnosis Kit' containing 'upE Gene' and 'ORF1a Gene' in accordance with the WHO guidelines and is preparing to export the kit to the world. Kim said "the area of its application is wide to new influenza, TB, SARS, Ebola, food poison, microorganism (caliciviruses), foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza."
Currently, Nanobiosys' 'UltraFast LabChip Real-time PCR G2-4' and 'Amplification Quantitative System' are being used in 27 countries in the world and Kim is expecting to achieve a $5M sales within the year. Meanwhile, Kim was invited as one of eight international scientists to Biological Weapons Convention held by UN in 2013 and presented his remarkable research results.
Working in cooperation with academic institutions and hospitals
Making it possible to be used with smart phones and wearables
Nanobiosys signed a Joint Business Agreement of 'UltraFast LabChip Real-time PCR G2-4' with SKtelecom in November 2013 and Joint Technology Development & Commercialization of 'High Speed Septicemia Molecular Diagnostic Reagent' with TORAY (Japan) in Fabruary 2014. Kim is also planning to secure original technology in cooperation with KIST, Korea University Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Samsung Medical Center and Asan Medical Center.
Kim said "I started with 6 of my colleagues in a 214 square meter space and I'm now working with 45 staff in a 2,148 square meter space." Recently, Nanobiosys has achieved a $6M export to the US and is ready to be listed on KONEX with its technology ranked in the top 10 of 80 companies. For its remarkable achievement, Nanobiosys received 'Creative Management Awards' from TV Chosun on 22 July.
Kim said "we are currently working on a project to apply our technology to smart phones and wearables in the hope of providing the public a quick and accurate diagnosis. People can take a blood sample themselves to send a doctor and receive prescription which we call ' U-healthcare' in the near future. We are also planning to commercialize a high speed accurate diagnosis system that can detect virus on an airplane from next year."
Nanobiosys is not only advancing with innovative technologies but also is contributing to raising Korea's global profile and job creation for young people.
±è¼±Áß ±âÀÚ cid14@naver.com