[Anchor] It’s time for IPO Preboard.

Recently, research in which the microbiome goes beyond drug development and combines with artificial intelligence to diagnose and predict diseases has been drawing attention.

Let’s take a closer look with Reporter Yang Jae-jun.

There are also listed microbiome-related companies such as Genome & Company and CJ Bioscience, and we hear that research on biomarkers has been active recently, right?

[Reporter] In July 2021, CJ CheilJedang drew attention when it purchased 44% of shares in ChunLab—a KOSDAQ-listed microbiome company now known as CJ Bioscience—for KRW 98.3 billion.

The microbiome refers to the collective microorganisms living in our bodies, including bacteria and viruses at the organism level.

The microbiome was previously used to make health functional foods or cosmetics, but it gained attention several years ago as drug development began.

In December last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Swiss company Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ “REBYOTA”, marking the first success in microbiome-based therapeutic development (approved for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection).

As microbiome research and development evolves, it is now advancing further into the stage of becoming a biomarker.

A biomarker is an indicator that can detect changes in the body using proteins, DNA, RNA (ribonucleic acid), metabolites, and more.

The microbiome is becoming a foundation that can go beyond drug development to help determine disease diagnosis, stage, and even prognosis.

[Anchor] So this can be understood as an expansion of R&D on microbiome-based biomarkers.

In Korea, which companies are working on microbiome-based biomarker development?

[Reporter] Microbiome-based biomarker R&D is being pursued not only by small and mid-sized biotechs, but also actively by large pharmaceutical companies through partnerships and M&A.

Similar to CJ CheilJedang, Shinsegae made a strategic investment in GoBioLab, and Celltrion, after GoBioLab, recently signed a joint R&D agreement with ResQure Biosciences to develop a Parkinson’s disease treatment. Chong Kun Dang Bio also began microbiome therapeutic development with Yonsei University Health System.

Yuhan Corporation acquired AtoGen in September last year to develop microbiome therapeutics, and LG Chem is developing a microbiome anticancer drug with Genome & Company.

In addition, GI Biome, a subsidiary of GI Innovation, received IND approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) last month for a Phase 1 clinical trial plan for a colon and rectal cancer drug candidate (GB-104) and has moved into biomarker analysis development.

[Anchor] There’s also a sense that microbiome biomarker R&D is expanding into the digital health field by combining with AI technology. Could you speak to that?

[Reporter] As you said, research partnerships using AI are also actively unfolding.

Hancom CareLink plans to develop a health checkup service using microbiome-based biomarker analysis technology in collaboration with the bio big data company 3bics.

Theragen GenomeCare, an AI-based genome analysis company, recently signed an MOU with microbiome analysis company EZn to build a microbiome analysis service.

Also, DxVx (DX&VX) is participating in overseas microbiome biomarker research with Cory Group to develop treatments for diabetes and obesity, as well as a digital prevention solution.

Medical AI company AIDOT is developing a microbiome-based AI solution for liver disease therapeutics.

This works by combining microbiome research results with next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify alcoholic liver disease, and then applying that to an AI algorithm.

Let’s hear from Jeong Jae-hoon, CEO of AIDOT.

[Interview: Jeong Jae-hoon / CEO, AIDOT] “Over about two years, we found biomarkers through species we’ve already developed, and through additional collaboration with a well-known domestic medical foundation, we’re carrying out further advancement work. With support from the Gangwon special zone—and a lot of help on regulatory aspects—we’re working to commercialize it in the second half of this year.”

[Anchor] We’re talking about microbiome biomarkers—so from a patient’s perspective, what are the benefits or advantages of AI-based biomarkers?

[Reporter] Typically, to detect colon cancer or liver cancer, examinations such as endoscopy, ultrasound, or MRI are used.

In these cases, patients must visit a hospital for tests, and in some cases sensitivity can be low. To improve accuracy, biopsy may be needed, which can be a burden for patients.

With AI, accuracy can be improved alongside physicians’ judgment, and there is also an advantage that the cost can be lower than conventional tests.

Let’s hear from CEO Jeong Jae-hoon of AIDOT.

[Interview: Jeong Jae-hoon / CEO, AIDOT] “We’re approaching it in a way that consumers and patients can access without burden by finding biomarkers through stool samples. Compared to the cost of liver testing via MRI in the existing market, we’re considering a cost at about half that level. We can contribute on the cost side, and we’re also working to achieve screening results equivalent to MRI in terms of accuracy.”

Published: March 10, 2023 / Korea Economic TV / Reporter Yang Jae-jun