Seegene Inc. (KQ096530), a leading South Korean company providing a total solution for PCR molecular diagnostics, announced today that it has developed its PCR test assays in response to the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) declared by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) on the global spread of mpox.
The products, which are intended for research use only (RUO), include Novaplex MPXV/OPXV Assay (RUO) and Novaplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay (RUO). In particular, Novaplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay (RUO) is designed to detect four viruses including mpox virus and other key STI-causing pathogens.
Seegene previously developed Novaplex MPXV (RUO) in 2022 using its advanced Seegene Digitalized Development System (SGDDS), which was developed based on Seegene’s expertise to rapidly create and deploy new assays.
“We will closely collaborate with governments around the world that need assays and plan to supply them with products meeting the needs of their respective markets.” said Daniel Shin, Executive Vice-President and Chief Global Sales and Marketing Officer at Seegene.
There are growing calls to ensure access to medicines for developing countries as mpox, once an endemic disease in Africa, poses a global threat. Seegene’s development of assays aims to curb the global outbreak of mpox and advance its vision of a “world free from all diseases.”
About Novaplex MPXV/OPXV Assay (RUO) and Novaplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay (RUO)
Novaplex MPXV/OPXV Assay (RUO) is designed to detect pathogens caused by Orthopox-viruses, including Clades 1 and 2 of the mpox virus. It enables early differentiation of mpox, which has a long incubation period of up to 21 days.
Novaplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay (RUO) is designed to detect Clade 1 and Clade 2 of the mpox virus, while also distinguishing between Clade 2 of the mpox virus. If the test results are negative for Clade 2, researchers can infer the presence of Clade 1. This assay provides reliable test results with broad coverage, detecting type 1 and type 2 of herpes simplex virus (HSV), as well as varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that exhibit symptoms similar to the mpox virus using the multiplex PCR testing.
Both assays feature dual internal controls (Endogenous Internal Control, Exogenous Internal Control) within the same tube. These controls validate the integrity of the sample and verify the entire testing process, ensuring highly reliable results.
