[Samsung Electronics Seocho Building (Yonhap News File Photo)]
“Samsung is participating as a strategic investor in the American biotechnology company ‘GRAIL,’ which possesses technology to diagnose cancer early by drawing blood from individuals without symptoms.”
“Samsung C&T and Samsung Electronics announced on the 16th, local time, that they would invest 110 million USD (approximately 155 billion KRW) in GRAIL.”
GRAIL is a company equipped with technology that optimally selects subtle pieces of DNA associated with cancer from billions of DNA fragments in blood and analyzes them with AI-based genomic data technology to not only detect cancer presence but also predict the organ location of the cancer.
As per various clinical trial results, GRAIL’s product ‘Galleri’ can detect over 50 types of cancer early with just one blood test.
Since its launch in 2021, it has conducted approximately 400,000 cumulative tests and is conducting large-scale clinical trials with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Moreover, GRAIL plans to apply for FDA approval for the Galleri test in the US next year.
Through this investment, Samsung C&T has secured exclusive distribution rights for the Galleri test in Korea and plans to collaborate with GRAIL in Singapore, Japan, and elsewhere.
Additionally, Samsung Electronics intends to pursue strategic collaboration to provide users with innovative health management experiences by linking GRAIL’s technological prowess and cumulative gene-based early cancer detection data with Samsung’s health platform.
Kim Jae-woo, Vice President in charge of Samsung C&T’s Life Sciences Business, stated, “Through this investment and strategic cooperation, Samsung C&T has created an opportunity to expand its bio-healthcare investment portfolio into the field with integrated gene and AI technology.”
Heon-soo Park, Team Leader of Digital Health at Samsung Electronics MX Business Division, said, “We will strive to integrate GRAIL’s clinical genomic data and technology with Samsung’s digital health platform to provide personalized digital health experiences.”
Harpal Kumar, President for International at GRAIL, commented, “We have partnered with Samsung to offer multi-cancer early detection services in Asia starting with Korea, and Samsung’s investment will greatly aid in achieving major milestones for insurance coverage of the Galleri test in the US and key markets.”
Meanwhile, Samsung C&T has invested through the Life Sciences Fund, jointly funded with Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis, in the US-based blood-based Alzheimer’s testing technology company ‘C2N’ and Flagship Pioneering Fund VIII in the US.
Also, Samsung Electronics has invested in ‘Element Bioscience,’ an American DNA analysis equipment company, to strengthen its healthcare segment and recently acquired the American digital healthcare company ‘Zellis.’
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