Theragen Bio, a spin-off firm of Theragen
Etex, officially launched on Monday after completing the split-up process,
aiming to become a company that specializes in developing customized new drugs
based on genome analytic technology.
Theragen Etex decided to spin off its
genome division into a new unlisted company, Theragen Bio, at its general
shareholders' meeting in March.
Theragen Bio has set its first challenge as
researching customized anticancer treatments such as immunotherapy using
neoantigens and vaccines for cancer treatment.
The treatment removes cancer cells by
activating the immune system in vivo by administering a tumor-specific antigen
to the patients.
The company also aims to develop new
genome-based companion diagnostic biomarkers to raise the efficiency in cancer
treatment, as well as support new drug development by pharmaceuticals here or
abroad by making the most of artificial intelligence and big data.
All of these projects will be based on the genome
analytics and detoxification technologies accumulated by Theragen Bio over the
past decade, the company said. The ongoing next-generation sequencing research
support, personal genome analysis, microbiome, and piling big data for
healthcare will also be a part of the business, it added.
"With the independent restart,
Theragen Bio will move beyond genetic analysis and move toward futuristic high
value-added fields, which surpass the flows and speed of the global
bio-industry," CEO Hwang Tae-soon said.
Theragen Bio plans to increase its
corporate value and go public in a few years, Hwang added.
