In Korea’s largest biohealth industry tradeshow BIO KOREA 2021, the global news network AVING News selected five companiesto receive the BEST OF BIO KOREA 2021 award.
For this award, AVING News selectedoutstanding products based on product technology, innovation, marketability,design, and audience response. The companies will get separate news articles sothat they can utilize it, and the news will also be posted in English.
In BIO KOREA 2021, we took a look atinnovative changes in biohealth industry technology and directions to respondto the new normal era. Unlike last year's BIO KOREA 2020, which was held onlinedue to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event was held in a hybrid formatwith conferences, exhibitions, business forums, investment fairs, and job fairprograms simultaneously held online and offline.
Especially in the digital treatmentsession, which is expanding its scope to treatment as a data convergencetechnology in the biohealth industry, the show will present current issues andapproval review methods for digital treatments in Korea, and provide a place todiscuss solutions for globalization. Also, with the rapid development ofvaccines and therapeutics after the COVID-19 pandemic, current technologytrends and issues, as well as plans to respond to future infectious diseases onthe development of safe and effective vaccines and securing productiontechnology, the next-generation rapid diagnostic method, and domestic andoverseas cases of step-by-step development COVID-19 treatment were discussed.
The selected companies for BEST OF BIOKOREA 2021 are as follows.
△Wellysis △Dr.Diary △CM Lab △SPMED △Awesomepia
| Wellysis introduces S-Patch Ex, ultra-light wearable ECG monitor recognized by the world
Launched in May 2019, Wellysis is a digitalhealthcare solution company that was spun off from Samsung SDS's digitalhealthcare team.
Wellysis, which developed the ECG monitorS-Patch Cardio, has been certified in Korea and also in Europe, CE, Australia,Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand with its outstanding performance and qualityon the frontline. Thanks to this, the company is exporting to Australia,Greece, Thailand, and Italy, and is gaining popularity in the global market.
S-Patch Ex, which was introduced as themain product at this exhibition, is the next model of Cardio and boasts anultra-light weight of 9g. Considering that the regular product weighs about400g, it is very light and can be worn more comfortably by the patient. Also,it can analyze ECG data with AI, greatly helping medical staff in diagnosingarrhythmias.
It is very straightforward and simple touse Wellysis’s S-Patch Ex. First, when the device is worn on the chest, ECGdata is transmitted to the mobile device in real time. Then, the collected datais automatically transmitted to the corresponding cloud server, and analysisgets started. Afterwards, when the results of ECG data analysis made byintelligent algorithm are given to the medical staff, the patient can receiveaccurate feedback and receive treatment.
“The S-Patch Ex presented at thisexhibition uses the bio process chip from Samsung Electronics. It is anupgraded version of the S-Patch Cardio that was previously introduced,” saidWellysis’s Manager Ku Eun-hye at BIO KOREA 2021 exhibition site. She added, “Wecan minimize the data loss by adding memory. By providing a cloud-based dataretrieval environment for the collected data, medical staff can access itanytime, anywhere to increase the efficiency of reading.”
She continued, "The current S-Patch Exmodel received Grade 2 Holter ECG certification from MFDS and will soon be soldby collaborating with Samjin Pharm. To expand the overseas market, we acquiredthe Europe CE certification last May, and are preparing for FDA approval withinthis year.”
| Dr.Diary showcases personalized management app optimized for diabetic patients
Dr.Diary is a self-management platform fordiabetic patients. It is a diabetes management app provided for patients whopursue healthy and complication-free sustainability.
It is a personalized app in a comprehensiveplatform measuring and managing the overall lifelog data of diabetic patients.It collects various PHR data such as blood glucose level, drugs, diet, andexercise, as well as community between patients, health mission, educationalvideo, weekly/monthly/quarterly health report, glycated hemoglobin levelprediction based on blood glucose record, and expert consultation.
The company staff from Dr.Diary introducedthe app by saying, "Our app features the community section so thatdiabetics can communicate and exchange information. And when they continuouslyrecord the data, they can check how well they are managing themselves.”
He also said, "We have also launchedour own blood sugar meter and a blood sugar test paper subscription servicethat can be used together. We are also going to launch the healthy habitforming manual app.”
| CM Lab introduces ThermoCops LITE, a detection device for quarantine necessary in the non-face-to-face era
CMLAB (Convergence Technologies for BioMedical Science) is developing medical technologies and services by convergingAI, VR, and IoT technologies.
The non-face-to-face detection deviceThermoCops LITE introduced at this exhibition is a medical device that canmeasure body temperature. It has a mask wearing detection function throughfacial recognition, and depending on the option, an electronic access list padis installed to manage access with a QR code. Also, temperature adjustmentfeature makes it possible to measure even in sub-zero cold weather.
The company staff from CM Lab said,"We aim to become a first-class company in the field of medicalconvergence technology through the development of medical technology that savespeople. By planning non-face-to-face consultation platform and business, we aregoing to enter the business of non-face-to-face medical examination and expandit.”
| SPMED introduced drug genetic testing service for precise personalized medical treatment
SPMED was established in 2016. It is aglobal healthcare company leading precision personalized medicine engaged inthe business models of customized new drug development service for efficientdevelopment (in vitro ADME), drug gene test kit for personalized treatment, andthe products (recombinant protein enzymes, drug gene test kits) necessary toperform these services for the pharmaceutical companies and drug developers.
Ahn Hyeon-jeong, the Head of ManagementPlanning Department of SPMED said, "Our drug genetic testing service helpsin prescribing individual drugs through genetic analysis with establishedclinical and scientific efficacy in relation to drug reactions and side effectsof specific drugs. Also, the non-clinical ADME service can test whether it iseffective at the cell level before clinical trials for new drug development.”
SPMED’s Drug Genetic Testing Serviceprovides helpful information that can handle emergencies due to drugs whenexperiencing side effects like diarrhea, headache, or itching after takingdrugs, taking the drugs for a prolonged time due to illnesses, preventing sideeffects of drugs that are taken or will be taken, or when the treatment effectis slow.
Also, the non-clinical ADME serviceconducts in vitro ADME evaluation studies at the initial stage and all stagesof new drug development to understand the metabolic/transport characteristicsand pharmacokinetics (PK) characteristics of candidate substances, therebycontributing to reducing failures in drug development.
| Awesomepia unveils Touch Brain, an upperbody rehabilitation evaluation device for upper extremity movement control,ability, measurement and analysis
Awesomepia is developing advanced ICTtechnologies such as data, network, and AI based on XR (Virtual ConvergenceTechnology) that has evolved from VR/AR. It is creating vision and valuethrough 5G-linked advanced ICT technology and digital transformation.
Touch Brain, the upper body rehabilitationevaluation device introduced at this exhibition is an upper extremity movementcontrol, ability, measurement and analysis device for patients with stroke anddegenerative brain diseases (Parkinson's, dementia, etc.).
Jo Jong-min, Manager of Awesomepia, said,"The rehabilitation treatment device used by existing patients is aproduct using a robot arm. It is difficult for the patients with less strength,and accurate measurement cannot be done.” He then said, "Our product hassolved these problems and allows accurate measurement and speed to determinethe rehabilitation status of patients." He also explained,"Currently, we are collecting patient data by supplying products to KoreaUniversity Guro Hospital and Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital."
Hosted by KHIDI and Chungcheongbuk-do, thetheme of BIO KOREA 2021 is “New Normal: Bio Innovation and OvercomingLimitations,” and it provided an opportunity to check the direction andstrategy for the health industry in Korea through conferences, exhibitions, andbusiness forums. Also, it was held both online and offline to provide a placeto share the latest issues and cutting-edge technologies in the biohealthmarket with investors, bio-industry executives, and related researchers fromaround the world.
→ Go to BIO KOREA 2021 news special page