Seegene Inc, a South Korean provider of solutions for PCR molecular diagnostics, announced on Tuesday that it has finalised a technology-sharing partnership agreement with Spanish diagnostic instruments manufacturer Werfen.

Under the agreement, Seegene and Werfen will set up a NewCo in Spain, Werfen-Seegene, upon the conclusion of mandatory government approvals anticipated by the first half of 2025. This partnership builds on the momentum of the existing technology-sharing initiative, which includes the first NewCo partnership in March 2023 with Hylabs, a diagnostic company in Israel.

The technology-sharing initiative aims to share Seegene's advanced diagnostic and data analysis technologies globally, including syndromic real-time PCR and an automated product development system (SGDDS), with a leading company partnered in each country. Partnering companies will work with local scientists and experts to develop diagnostic tests tailored to the needs of their communities and fields, spanning a wide range of human and non-human diseases.

Werfen-Seegene will prioritise developing products for infectious diseases, which includes antimicrobial and drug resistance testing, viral load testing, monitoring tests for organ transplant patients, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and emerging diseases specific to the region. The NewCo will use Werfen's extensive local infrastructure and network to provide products engineered to meet local requirements.