Daewoong Bio is moving to introduce blood-based Alzheimer's disease diagnostic technology to the Korean market as it seeks to strengthen its competitiveness in the central nervous system (CNS) sector. The initiative reflects a broader industry shift toward early diagnosis and personalized management of neurodegenerative diseases.
The company announced on June 15 that it hosted its annual CNS Symposium in Seoul on June 6 and 7, where it introduced the latest treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease and emerging blood-based diagnostic technologies to medical professionals.
A key session at the symposium focused on blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's diagnosis. Ryu Jae-hak, CEO of LabGenomics, presented Lumipulse, a blood-based Alzheimer's diagnostic test developed by Japan's Fujirebio, highlighting its clinical applications and future potential.
Lumipulse is an in vitro diagnostic test that measures the ratio of phosphorylated tau protein (pTau217) to beta-amyloid (β-Amyloid 1-42) in blood samples to assess the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease. Compared with cerebrospinal fluid testing or positron emission tomography (PET) scans, the blood-based test is considered more accessible and cost-effective.
The test received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2025, drawing attention as the Alzheimer's treatment landscape evolves alongside growing demand for earlier diagnosis.
Tau proteins and beta-amyloid are among the most widely used biomarkers for monitoring Alzheimer's disease progression. Abnormal accumulation of tau proteins has been linked to neuronal damage, while beta-amyloid is associated with the formation of amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's pathology.
During the symposium, Ryu also outlined plans for an overseas laboratory testing service in partnership with U.S.-based pathology testing provider QDx Pathology. Under the model, Korean healthcare institutions would send patient samples to specialized overseas laboratories for analysis and receive diagnostic results.
LabGenomics plans to work with Daewoong Bio to expand the availability of blood-based Alzheimer's biomarker testing services for medical institutions in Korea.
Daewoong Bio currently offers a portfolio of CNS-related products, including Gliatamin, Glivixa, Beacept, Cerebrain, and Melaking, as it expands its position in the brain health market. Through its collaboration with LabGenomics, the company aims to broaden its capabilities beyond therapeutics to include diagnostics and patient management solutions.
"The role of blood-based biomarker testing in Alzheimer's diagnosis continues to expand, making it increasingly important to share related information with healthcare professionals," said Ryu Jae-hak, CEO of LabGenomics. "We hope to improve understanding of Lumipulse and overseas testing services while providing practical diagnostic options for medical institutions."
Yoo Young-ki, head of marketing at Daewoong Bio, said the treatment environment for Alzheimer's disease is shifting toward earlier diagnosis and personalized patient care alongside therapeutic advances.
"Leveraging our CNS portfolio and innovative diagnostic technologies, we will continue expanding the range of options available to healthcare professionals and strengthen our competitiveness as a brain health company," Yoo said.
