Image provided by Theragen Bio
Theragen Bio (Co-CEOs Jin-up Ko and Soonmyung Paik) announced that its consortium with Macrogen, DNA Link, and CG Invites has been selected as the final genome production partner for Korea’s “National Bio Big Data Project,” commissioned by the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). The project is supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The project aims to build bio-big data for 770,000 Koreans by 2028 and expand to one million by 2032. With a budget of KRW 606.5 billion, it is Korea’s largest bioindustry initiative, targeting new drug development, disease prevention, and personalized medical research. Theragen Bio’s consortium will generate and analyze 145,952 whole-genome sequencings (WGS) datasets and 2,800 transcriptomes (mRNA) datasets, which are central in building the national bio-data ecosystem.
The consortium will implement a fully automated genome data production system aligned with global standards to ensure the highest quality data. They aim to produce reliable data that can gain international recognition while supporting cutting-edge research and applications.
Theragen Bio is also a leader in developing genome analysis technologies, focusing on processing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. These samples, commonly used in cancer research and clinical studies, present challenges due to degraded DNA and artificial mutations. Despite the annual global production of about 10 million FFPE samples, they still need to be utilized due to technical difficulties.
To address this, Theragen Bio developed DEEPOMICS® FFPE, an AI-powered solution that removes artificial mutations from FFPE samples, enabling high-quality genome data extraction. The company has also commercialized T Cell Receptor (TCR) sequencing technology, facilitating immune profiling from FFPE samples—a critical advancement for immunological and precision medicine research.
Theragen Bio continues to enhance its technologies, working toward providing comprehensive immune profiling solutions using FFPE samples. This development is expected to advance cancer treatment, immunological research, and precision medicine.
Soonmyung Paik, Co-CEO of Theragen Bio, expressed pride in participating in the National Bio Big Data Project, emphasizing that high-quality genome data is the foundation of precision medicine and biomedical research. He noted the historical underuse of FFPE samples due to analytical challenges and affirmed Theragen Bio’s commitment to overcoming these limitations and contributing to next-generation biomedical advancements.
Jin-up Ko, Co-CEO of Theragen Bio, highlighted the consortium’s collective expertise, noting that the companies involved are globally recognized leaders in genome analysis. He emphasized that the consortium aims to drive a national leap forward in bioinformatics and contribute meaningfully to public health through collaboration. He pledged Theragen Bio’s full support for the project, with a focus on advancing precision medicine and life sciences.
Through this initiative, Theragen Bio aims to strengthen Korea’s global competitiveness in bioinformatics while solidifying its leadership in genome analysis technology.
