Theragen Bio Expands DTC Genetic Test Items to 70 and Launches

Achieved the Highest Number of Approvals in Korea for 1st and 2nd Phases of Government Pilot Project
Enabling Analysis of Nutrients, Exercise Traits, Skin Aging, Hair Loss, Yo-Yo Effect, and Ancestry Tracing

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Theragen Bio announced on the 4th that it will improve and launch the ‘Genstyle’ series, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing service for non-medical institutions composed of the largest number of test items in Korea.

Theragen Bio expects to provide consumers with abundant genetic information and various solutions through the expansion of test items.

Since March this year, Theragen Bio has obtained approval for all 70 test items allowed in Korea through the ‘2nd DTC Certification Pilot Project’ conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for about seven months. The company launched the new service in accordance with the recently revised Ministry of Health and Welfare related notices.

Following last year’s 1st pilot project, Theragen Bio is the only company to have consecutively obtained certification for the largest number of test items in Korea in the two government-led pilot projects held up to this year.

Theragen Bio’s existing DTC genetic test items covered 55 wellness-related fields including nutrients, exercise characteristics, skin beauty, hair, eating habits, obesity, and personal traits.

The newly introduced tests include nutrients such as vitamin A, selenium, and lutein, which were previously not allowed, as well as bone mass, abdominal obesity, weight loss effects from exercise, and the possibility of weight regain (yo-yo effect) after weight loss.

A Theragen Bio official said, "Amid rapidly changing lifestyles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope consumers can pay attention to personalized health management through DTC genetic testing, a non-face-to-face healthcare service."

DTC testing is a genetic testing service that allows consumers to directly request tests from testing institutions (companies) online or at stores without visiting medical institutions.

Until last year, the government uniformly limited the number of DTC genetic test items to 11 for the entire industry. Recently, through pilot projects, the government evaluates the accuracy, safety, and consumer satisfaction of tests and allows companies to have a differentiated number of test items.