Element Biosciences, a U.S. maker of genetic analysis instruments whose largest shareholder is Samsung Electronics (005930), showcased technology in South Korea that could speed up drug development, as the company seeks broader partnerships with the local medical and biotech industries.
Samsung Electronics said Element Biosciences held its "Shift Your Science" roadshow at the Rise Hotel in Seoul's Mapo district on the 20th.
Element Biosciences develops instruments that analyze a range of biological materials, including deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which carries genetic information. The company has raised the accuracy of its genome analysis to 99.99%, the highest level in the industry. Samsung Electronics took part in the company's Series D round in 2024 and joined its Series E round in June this year, becoming the largest shareholder.
The company organized the roadshow to strengthen cooperation with Samsung Electronics and other Korean industry players. It also announced the first shipment of Cytos, which it described as the world's first multiomics solution. Multiomics technology analyzes multiple types of biological information from a single cell at once, including cell morphology, protein expression and the entire transcriptome. Researchers are expected to use it to study complex drug responses more efficiently and to sharply accelerate the pace of drug development.
Element Biosciences also demonstrated Vitali, a next-generation genome analysis instrument that increases analysis throughput more than fivefold compared with existing products while cutting the cost of analysis to $100. Vitali is taking advance orders from customers ahead of shipment late this year.
Molly He, chief executive of Element Biosciences, who delivered the keynote address, said Cytos "observes changes in cells and analyzes the results comprehensively, making more accurate and sophisticated experiments possible." She added, "We will support researchers in finding answers to a range of biological questions that have been difficult to resolve with existing analysis technologies."
Starting with Seoul, Element Biosciences plans to hold the roadshow in San Diego, Munich, Boston and Stockholm in turn.