SD Biosensor Signs Tripartite MOU for R&D of New Products for Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis with Japan's RIT/JATA and Korea's International Tuberculosis Research Center

In This Article:

  • SD Biosensor strengthens its new product lineup with the POC molecular diagnostic platform M10

  • Early detection of patients is expected to contribute to the eradication of tuberculosis in high-risk Asian countries

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SD Biosensor, Inc. (KQ137310), South Korea's global in-vitro diagnostics company, announced the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the research and development (R&D) of new products targeting extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis using its Point-of-Care (POC) molecular diagnostic platform "STANDARD M10" (hereinafter, "M10"). The MOU was signed with the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (hereinafter, "RIT/JATA"), and Korea's International Tuberculosis Research Center (hereinafter, "ITRC"), at SD Biosensor's Giheung Office on Nov. 28.

SD Biosensor, Inc., Japan’s RIT/JATA, and Korea’s International Tuberculosis Research Center are signing the MOU[The third from the left: Seiya Kato, (Director of RIT/JATA), followed by HyoKeun Lee (Chief Executive Officer of SDB) and Sangrae Cho (Chief of ITRC)] / Photo provided by: SD Biosensor, Inc.
SD Biosensor, Inc., Japan’s RIT/JATA, and Korea’s International Tuberculosis Research Center are signing the MOU[The third from the left: Seiya Kato, (Director of RIT/JATA), followed by HyoKeun Lee (Chief Executive Officer of SDB) and Sangrae Cho (Chief of ITRC)] / Photo provided by: SD Biosensor, Inc.

The signing ceremony was attended by HyoKeun Lee (Chief Executive Officer, SDB), Dr. Seiya Kato, (Director, RIT/JATA), and Sangrae Cho (Chief, ITRC), among others. Under this MOU, the three organizations plan to pursue active collaboration on: product research and development; performing research and verifying feasibility; product approval and commercialization, etc., all under the common goal of "research and development of new products for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis".

"Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB)" refers to a form of tuberculosis that is resistant not only to primary drugs used for treatment (multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, MDR-TB, or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis, RR-TB), but also to fluoroquinolone, a second-line drug, and at least one drug from Group A. The mortality rate of patients who develop resistance to these drugs is known to exceed 25%. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and the use of appropriate medications are crucial. The products for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, which will be developed through this MOU with SD Biosensor's POC molecular diagnostic platform M10 are expected to contribute to the eradication of tuberculosis in high-risk Asian countries.

Dr. Seiya Kato, the Director of RIT/JATA said, "We are proud to collaborate with SD Biosensor and the International Tuberculosis Research Center in the development of a molecular diagnostic kit for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. This innovation marks a significant step forward in accelerating accurate diagnosis and improving global tuberculosis control efforts."