[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Somagen announced on the 22nd that it has registered a patent for a digital microfluidic system and method for processing personal genome and microbiome samples.
The patent relates to an automated system designed to minimize the possibility of cross-contamination between samples during personal genome and microbiome analysis, enabling rapid and accurate processing of large volumes of samples. Somagen plans to implement an automated sample processing system for the personal genome and microbiome analysis services currently offered by the company using this technology.
At the end of December 2019, Somagen acquired key assets including 246 patents (60 registered patents) related to microbiome analysis and approximately 300,000 sample data from uBiome, the leading company in the US microbiome analysis field. Since last year, Somagen has recruited numerous experts specializing in the microbiome field as well as professionals who were responsible for the development and analysis of microbiome services at uBiome. The company is also sequentially analyzing the microbiome patents and developing related services.
In particular, including this recent patent, Somagen has completed the registration of 24 additional patents related to the microbiome since acquiring uBiome’s patents. Currently, the company holds a total of 84 registered patents related to the microbiome. According to the company, this ranks them first in the world in terms of the number of microbiome analysis-related patents held.
Ryan Kim, CEO of Somagen, stated, “Based on numerous core patents related to the microbiome, we plan to actively utilize them not only for the microbiome analysis services currently provided but also for upcoming hospital-linked clinical services. In the long term, we aim to create various related business models including personalized cosmetics, diet, healthcare, and new drug development.”
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