Responding to the Urgent Need for Rapid Diagnosis of Severe Rare Diseases in Newborns
On August 4, 2025, rare genetic disorder diagnostics company 3billion announced that it had signed an agreement with Morocco's public healthcare institution, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health (FM6SS Foundation), to supply its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered genetic variant interpretation software, Zebra, and to advance the local diagnostic system.
Threebillion announced on the 4th that it has signed a contract with the Mohamed VI Foundation for Scientific Research and Health, a public healthcare institution in Morocco, to supply its AI genetic variant interpretation software Zebra and to advance the diagnostic system. Threebillion
The FM6SS Foundation is a non-profit organization established under the patronage of the King of Morocco. It operates a variety of public health initiatives, including expanding medical infrastructure, advancing higher education and research and development, and improving medical services.
This agreement is part of a project to establish Africa's first clinical diagnostic system based on Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (Rapid WGS). Zebra will be introduced as a core solution for genetic disorder diagnosis in Morocco's neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Through the supply of Zebra, 3billion will support FM6SS Foundation's medical staff with technology that enables them to independently perform the entire process from genome analysis and interpretation to the generation of diagnostic reports. In particular, Rapid WGS will be applied to high-risk newborns with acute symptoms, enabling fast and accurate diagnoses that directly impact survival rates and treatment outcomes.
Zebra is a cloud-based genetic variant interpretation software powered by 3billion's AI technology. It analyzes whole genome data, automatically interprets pathogenic variants, and identifies the top five disease-associated genetic variants with over 99% accuracy in under five minutes. As a result, local medical staff in Morocco can make rapid diagnostic decisions even in remote settings, and the analysis period, which previously took several months, can be shortened to within 10 days, allowing for effective response in urgent diagnostic situations.
After approximately three months of technical review and training, the FM6SS Foundation confirmed Zebra's performance and local applicability, leading to this supply agreement. In Morocco, about 600,000 newborns are born each year, and up to 10% of them may be eligible for rapid whole genome sequencing diagnostics. The foundation plans to expand the application of genome-based precision diagnostics to various departments, including pediatrics, neurology, and cardiology, starting with the introduction of Zebra.
Lee Sukjin, Chief Business Officer of 3billion, stated, "This agreement goes beyond simple technology export; it is a case of providing foundational technology that allows local medical professionals to independently establish and operate genome-based diagnostic systems in their own country. Zebra is a tool that enables rapid and precise diagnostics even in environments with limited medical infrastructure, and it is making a tangible contribution to global public healthcare innovation."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
