Photo: BBC
Get Heath Access | Seegene develops monkeypox PCR test | SEOUL, South Korea, June 28, 2022 — A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that can identify the monkeypox virus has been created by Seegene Inc. (KQ965390), the most successful molecular diagnostics (MDx) company in South Korea. The NovaplexTM MPXV Assay was rapidly developed by the company using the company’s AI-based automated test development system, which is known as SGDDS (Seegene Digitalized Development System), and technologies that have been refined over the course of 20 years of MDx expertise. The assay specifically targets the monkeypox virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the monkeypox virus is an “evolving health threat that requires collective attention and coordinated action.” Because of this, the WHO has requested that member states step up their surveillance efforts, as well as their efforts to trace contacts and conduct testing. The monkeypox virus has been found in over 50 countries, and just last week, South Korea confirmed that it had its first incidence of the disease. It is anticipated that between 3 and 6 percent of people who contract the strain that is now circulating in the Northern Hemisphere will die from the illness. This strain is especially harmful to young children and people whose immune systems are compromised.
When it comes to infectious diseases in general, a proper diagnosis is absolutely necessary because therapies tend to be more successful in the earlier stages of an infection. Due to this, conducting PCR testing in a timely manner is quite necessary, particularly for people who may have a suspected case. The incubation period for the monkeypox infection can range from five to 21 days.
Within that amount of time, the NovaplexTM MPXV Assay is able to positively identify cases of the monkeypox virus. The corporation moved quickly to develop the device in order to assist in preventing the worldwide spread. Seegene intends to make the assays available to the countries that have confirmed the presence of the virus.
“The outbreak of the monkeypox virus shows that endemic viruses can rapidly spread to the rest of the world, and it’s a warning that new pandemics can emerge at any time and threaten our lives,” said Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO of Seegene. “This is a warning that new pandemics can emerge at any time and threaten our lives.” “We will continue our efforts to develop technologies that can reliably diagnose any virus in order to assist in preventing new infectious illnesses from gaining a foothold and developing into pandemics.”
SOURCE: PR Newswire/Seegene Inc.
