The Korean Institute of Tuberculosis of the Korean National Tuberculosis Association (President: Hee-Jin Kim) and Bodytech Med Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Ui-Yeol Choi) signed a MOU for development of Korean-type high-efficiency tuberculosis infection diagnosis technology and business cooperation on the 31st.
In March 2016, the government announced the "Action Plan for the TB Safety Nation" and formulated a paradigm shift from the treatment-oriented TB policy to the prevention oriented TB policy that emphasizes screening for latent tuberculosis infection and preventive chemotherapy. However, currently, all products for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection depend on imports.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) are promoting research projects for KRW 1,424,000,000 for the development of "high efficiency TB infection diagnostic kit for Koreans'.
Since its foundation in 1970, the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis has been a pivotal institute for tuberculosis research in Korea and has continued to develop antigen combinations for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection since 2012. Currently, it has three related patents.
Bodytech Med Co., Ltd. has been engaged in the development of in vitro diagnostic devices and diagnostic reagents for 20 years. In particular, about 25,000 units of ichroma ™ immunoassay readers are installed and operated around the world, while C-reactive protein products have the largest market share in China.
Through this business agreement, the institute and Bodytech Med plan to cooperate in developing products that can accurately diagnose latent TB infection based on the know-how of raw material development of the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis and in vitro diagnostic technology of Bodytech Med Co., Ltd.
Hee-Jin Kim, director of Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, said, "Through this agreement, we hope to develop an excellent latent tuberculosis infection diagnostic device and help reduce the burden of disease caused by tuberculosis."
President and CEO Eui-Yeol Choi said, "Based on our domestic technology, we are looking forward to the successful cooperation of both organizations to develop diagnostic devices that are recognized in the world market."