GC Genome Registers Japanese Patent for AI-Based Early Cancer Detection Method

Patent for AI-Based Detection of Tumor-Derived DNA Mutations
and Early Cancer Diagnosis Method

GC Genome, a company specializing in liquid biopsy and clinical genomics analysis, announced on April 25 that its patent for an "Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based method for detecting tumor-derived mutations in cell-free DNA and an early cancer diagnosis method using the same" has been officially registered in Japan.

The newly registered patent covers GC Genome's AI-based non-invasive minimal residual disease detection technology (G-MRD), which utilizes next-generation sequencing (NGS) to leverage both the functional and sequence characteristics of cancer. This enables the precise use of mutations detected from small amounts of data, allowing for early cancer diagnosis, as well as applications in recurrence detection, assessment of treatment efficacy, and prediction of patient prognosis.

GC Genome is currently developing a test using this technology to detect minimal residual cancer cells remaining after treatment in breast and colorectal cancer patients, enabling monitoring for recurrence. In addition, the company expects to integrate this with its existing technology that utilizes genomic mutation information obtained from cell-free DNA (Regional Mutation Density, RMD), which is anticipated to further expand its precision medicine business.

Ki Changseok, CEO of GC Genome, stated, "Along with this patent, we have recently launched iCancerSearch, a multi-cancer early screening test, in the Japanese market, and we are actively targeting the Japanese market." He added, "We will do our utmost to promote our outstanding technological capabilities in the global market."

Meanwhile, GC Genome holds a total of 152 core and foundational technology patents, including those for liquid biopsy and clinical genomics analysis, across more than 16 countries, including the G-MRD technology.