JW Bioscience Signs Initial Production Contract for High-Sensitivity Point-of-Care Diagnostic Device

High-Sensitivity POCT Device Initial Production Started
ODM Entrusted to Microdigital

JW Life Science's research and development (R&D) subsidiary JW Bioscience announced on the 3rd that it has signed an initial production contract for the high-sensitivity point-of-care testing device 'JWELIX Q6' with precision diagnostics specialist Microdigital.

JWELICS Q6.
[Photo by JW Bioscience]

Under this contract, Microdigital will begin the initial production of JWELIX Q6, which was jointly developed with JW Bioscience.

JWELIX Q6 is a chemiluminescent immunoassay device that quantifies antigens, antibodies, and specific biomarkers contained in human whole blood, plasma, serum, and nasopharyngeal secretions to diagnose various diseases as a point-of-care testing (POCT) device. It can measure up to six samples simultaneously and provides diagnostic results within 20 minutes.

The company explained that this device features precise early diagnosis with sensitivity comparable to large automated equipment by applying an active pump based on chemiluminescent analysis technology. The active pump, developed by Microdigital as the world's first repetitive cleaning technology, removes cartridge residues to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February last year to commercialize JWELIX Q6. Since the MOU, JW Bioscience has secured exclusive worldwide sales rights for JWELIX Q6 and is developing diagnostic kits for sepsis, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and hormonal disorders to be installed in the device. Microdigital has completed follow-up development to improve JWELIX Q6's performance and established a mass production system, including a new production line.

Additionally, JW Bioscience is proceeding with domestic approval for the sepsis diagnostic kit to be used with JWELIX Q6. JW Bioscience holds patents for the core technology of the biomarker WRS (tryptophan-tRNA synthetase), which enables early sepsis diagnosis, and two types of specific binding antibodies. JW Bioscience and Microdigital plan to continue negotiations for signing the main contract, aiming for a release in the first half of next year.

Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Microdigital, said, "This collaboration will be a representative successful case of open innovation where innovative diagnostic and medical device technologies combine to create synergy," adding, "We plan to cooperate with JW Bioscience to ensure JWELIX Q6 smoothly enters the global market."

Cha Seong-nam, CEO of JW Bioscience, said, "It is meaningful that we are developing a point-of-care testing device with purely domestic independent technology in a POCT market monopolized by global companies," and added, "Based on cooperation with Microdigital, we will strengthen the value chain of POCT devices, panels, and kits to target the global market."