[Edaily Reporter KIM SUNG-JIN ] Seegene Inc.(096530)Seegene Inc. improved its first-half performance this year, driven by increased sales of non-respiratory diagnostic products, such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gastrointestinal (GI) infections. Seegene Inc. plans to secure mid- to long-term growth momentum by expanding its lineup of non-respiratory diagnostic products while advancing test automation and data analysis technologies.

According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on the 21st, Seegene Inc.’s consolidated revenue for the first half of this year reached 265.1 billion won, a 15.2% increase compared to the same period last year. Operating profit stood at 45.1 billion won, a 150.9% increase over the same period.

Non-respiratory diagnostic products were the driving force behind this improvement. Seegene Inc. explained that despite a seasonal decline in demand for respiratory diagnostic products, its non-respiratory product line maintained double-digit growth.

In fact, sales of HPV diagnostic products in the second quarter of this year rose 40.3% year-over-year. Sales of STI and GI diagnostic products also increased by 20.7% and 13.9%, respectively. Consequently, total sales of non-respiratory diagnostic products rose 22.9% during the same period. Overseas operations also showed growth. In the second quarter of this year, Europe accounted for the largest share of revenue at 57.2%, while Asia and Latin America accounted for 19.1% and 12.4%, respectively.

This growth trend in non-respiratory diagnostic products is also evident among global diagnostic companies. France-based bioMérieux reported that sales of its BIOFIRE non-respiratory test panels in the first half of this year increased by 5.5% on an organic basis, excluding currency fluctuations and changes in business scope. QIAGEN also explained that in the second quarter of this year, increased sales of gastrointestinal, meningitis, and encephalitis test panels for its syndromic testing system, “QIAstat-Dx,” partially offset the decline in respiratory test sales.

Seegene Inc. is also expanding its business scope in non-respiratory diagnostic products. In particular, the company is focusing on the field of antibiotic resistance (AMR) diagnostics, where global demand is expected to grow. Last May, Seegene Inc. launched the “Allplex MDRO Assay,” a product for detecting multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) that complies with the requirements of the European In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR), into the European market.

This product is designed to simultaneously detect major multidrug-resistant pathogens and resistance genes associated with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. A key feature is that it provides information necessary for infection response even before the results of conventional culture tests are available.

The market for antibiotic resistance diagnostics is expected to continue growing. According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) last October based on surveillance data from over 100 countries, one in six common bacterial infections confirmed by testing worldwide in 2023 was resistant to antibiotics.

Along with expanding its diagnostic product lineup, Seegene Inc. is accelerating the development of test automation and data analysis technologies. The company unveiled advanced versions of its automated testing system, “CURECA,” and its data analysis platform, “STAgora,” at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global 2026) conference held in Munich, Germany, last April, and at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Medicine (ADLM 2026) conference held in Anaheim, California, last July.

Seegene Inc. spokesperson stated, “Sales growth in our non-respiratory product lines—including HPV, STIs, and GI—led to improved second-quarter performance,” adding, “We plan to continue strengthening our product competitiveness and laying the groundwork for mid- to long-term growth.”