Seegene
Public Β· 1 known investors
Korean in vitro molecular diagnostics maker of multiplex real-time PCR assays, lab automation systems and diagnostic data software.
Also known as γμ¨μ Β· KRX:096530 Β· Seegene Inc.
Founders & leadership
Investors Β· 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Seegene Inc. (γμ¨μ ) is a South Korean biotechnology company specializing in in vitro molecular diagnostics. Its portfolio covers assays and screening products for sepsis, respiratory diseases such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, and sexually transmitted infections, alongside instruments and software. The company describes three core technology pillars: diagnostic reagents, automation systems, and information/data platforms, combined into what it calls an intelligent diagnostics environment for laboratories.
The reagent portfolio is organized around respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital, HPV, meningitis, tuberculosis and healthcare-associated infections, and includes extraction reagents under the STARMag brand and control panels. Instruments include the Seegene STARlet-AIOS, Seegene STARlet, Seegene NIMBUS, SEEPREP32, CFX Opus 96 Dx, CFX96 Dx and VCMS; software products include Seegene Viewer and Seegene Launcher. The company markets Allplex as a high-multiplex qPCR platform supporting more than 100 assays, CURECA as an automation platform covering sample preparation through result analysis, and STAgora as a cloud-based statistical platform for benchmarking laboratory performance and identifying diagnostic trends.
Business model
Seegene develops and manufactures molecular diagnostic reagents, extraction kits, control panels, instruments and analysis software sold to diagnostic laboratories, distributing through overseas subsidiaries and a domestic and international distributor network. It also operates a Technology-Sharing Initiative under which it partners with a leading company in each country to share diagnostic, system and data-analysis technology, with partners co-developing tests tailored to local needs across human, animal and environmental disease areas.
Traction
By April 2020 Seegene had sold more than 10 million Allplex 2019-nCoV tests across more than 60 countries. It scaled variant test production to 300,000 kits per month, sufficient to test 30 million people, shipping to roughly 20 countries. Reported revenue was US$957 million in 2020, with 793 employees.
Latest developments
The company positions its current offering around three integrated pillars β the Allplex high-multiplex qPCR assay platform, the CURECA automation system and the STAgora cloud data platform β and is expanding its Technology-Sharing Initiative with partner companies internationally.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Seegene is described as a leading global company in in vitro molecular diagnostics and was among the top-performing Korean companies in 2020, reporting profit growth of more than 1,000% year over year in the third quarter of that year. During the COVID-19 pandemic it manufactured up to 100,000 tests per day and had sold more than 10 million tests in over 60 countries by April 2020.
Technology
Seegene's assays are built on proprietary platforms including Dual Priming Oligonucleotide (DPO), Tagging Oligonucleotide Cleavage and Extension (TOCE) and Multiple Detection Temperatures (MuDT), which support multiplex assays detecting and quantifying multiple pathogens from a single sample. Additional technologies include the GeneFishing discovery platform for differentially expressed genes and DNA Walking Technology for identifying unknown DNA sequences adjacent to known sequences. The company also states it applied proprietary artificial intelligence technology to reagent development, including the rapid design of its SARS-CoV-2 assay. Current commercial platforms are Allplex (high-multiplex qPCR), CURECA (full laboratory automation from sample prep to analysis) and STAgora (cloud-based diagnostic data and statistics).
Go-to-market
Clinical and diagnostic laboratories, hospitals and public health testing programs requiring infectious disease testing, plus in-country partner companies and researchers participating in its technology-sharing program.
Geography
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil and the Middle East. Company materials cite eight overseas corporations, a network of 140 domestic and international distributors, and business in 101 countries. A U.S. entity, Seegene USA, is located in Irvine, California.
History
Seegene was founded in 2000. In September 2010 it completed a $16.6 million initial public offering to list on KOSDAQ, a trading board of the Korea Exchange. In January 2020 it began developing a diagnostic for what became known as COVID-19, producing its first real-time PCR assay for the novel coronavirus on February 3, 2020; the Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay received emergency use authorization from Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on February 12, 2020 and from the U.S. FDA in April 2020. In early 2021 the company announced the Allplex SARS-CoV-2 Variants I Assay, described as able to screen for infection and identify multiple variants in a single reaction. Company materials published on its Korean site refer to 26 years of accumulated expertise, while its English site refers to 25 years.
Risks & controversies
In February 2021, Seegene was disciplined by Korea's Securities and Futures Commission over accounting errors and deficiencies dating from the company's early years of operation. The company stated it had acknowledged and reconciled those issues in 2019 and overhauled its accounting and management practices.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 6
launches, deals, and filingsSeegene announced a COVID-19 variant test able to screen for infection and identify multiple mutant variations in a single reaction.
Seegene was disciplined by Korea's Securities and Futures Commission for accounting errors and deficiencies from the company's early years of operation; the company said it reconciled the issues in 2019.
The U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization for the Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay.
Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted emergency use authorization for the Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay.
Seegene produced its Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay, a real-time PCR test identifying the E, RdRP and N target genes in a single reaction tube.
Seegene undertook a $16.6 million initial public offering to list on KOSDAQ, a trading board of the Korea Exchange, to fund expansion of its molecular diagnostics kits in the U.S. and Japan.
$16.6M source β
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- λ©μΈ | Seegenekr.seegene.com Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Seegene do?
- Korean in vitro molecular diagnostics maker of multiplex real-time PCR assays, lab automation systems and diagnostic data software.
- Who are Seegene's investors?
- Seegene's investors include Kiwoom Investment.