Bioneer Files Patent for Next-Generation Fully Automated Molecular Diagnostic Equipment

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Bioneer announced on the 23rd that it has filed a patent for the ExiStation™ 96 FA, a device that fully automates the entire molecular diagnostic process.

Bioneer holds over 180 patents related to molecular diagnostics, and the newly filed patent is for an "automatic dispensing device and a sample automatic analysis system equipped with the same." When using Bioneer's new device ExiStation™ 96 FA, which applies this patented technology, sample containers can be directly loaded into the device, which then automatically opens the container lids and performs dispensing, nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and analysis?all in one continuous process without any human intervention.

Previously, molecular diagnostics required the examiner to manually open the sample collection container, collect the sample, and dispense it, which posed a high risk of infection. Additionally, after placing the sample into the nucleic acid extraction device and completing extraction, the sample had to be mixed with diagnostic kits and transferred to gene amplification equipment. This process required skilled experts to perform the tests.

However, Bioneer's new technology fully automates the opening and closing of sample containers within the device, preventing risks such as examiner infection, sample contamination, and human error. Furthermore, with simple training, tests can be performed quickly and fully automatically without risk, which is expected to create a new wave in the molecular diagnostics market. The new device ExiStation™ 96 FA is significant in that it establishes a next-generation platform enabling Bioneer to gain a competitive edge against leading molecular diagnostic companies like Roche and Abbott.

According to a Bioneer representative, "Our technology is already at the world’s highest level," and added, "Compared to foreign competing products, it is smaller in size, maximizing space efficiency in typically cramped diagnostic laboratories, and it will be very competitive in terms of price," emphasizing the product’s excellence.

Bioneer plans to establish a mass production system for the ExiStation™ 96 FA at its new factory next year and strengthen marketing efforts centered on blood centers worldwide to enhance competitiveness in the blood donation testing kit market, which accounts for about one-third of the global molecular diagnostics market, in collaboration with over 80 global partners.

A Bioneer official stated, "Given its competitive performance and price, we believe it will be very useful even in molecular diagnostic areas with low operator proficiency," and added, "We will actively enter the North American and European markets based on this next-generation fully automated molecular diagnostic device."