Theragen Etex said Wednesday that it would start a big data-based gene inspection service with its newly developed “Theragen Precision Medicine Research Array (PMRA) Chip.”

New Theragen Precision Medicine Research Array (PMRA) Chip

It is the first time a local firm has developed and commercialized its genetic analysis chip with independently developed technology.

Based on the Asian customized genome analysis chip developed by the U.S. company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, the Korean company developed the chip by also applying its genome analysis know-how.

The chip can analyze more than 820,000 large-scale genetic variations with the same accuracy within the same period.

Analysis using the Theragen PMRA Chip takes about two weeks and has a 99.8 percent re-detection rate while covering more than 95 percent of genomes.

“This chip is applicable for all Asian people, including Koreans, and is optimized for various researches and personal diagnoses as it shows various indicators at once,” said Hong Kyung-won, head of genome development service at Theragen Etex.

The company expects that the chip will have broad applications in finding new genetic markers, genetic mutation testing for new drug development and treatment of intractable disease, and personal disease vulnerability analysis.

Also, for the convenience of medical staff and researchers, the company is supporting the design of genome analysis research using its chip, training of analysis techniques, and interpreting the results.

The company is also applying PMRA chip to its genome analysis services, such as Hello Gene and Gene Style.

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