South Korean Genomic Research Provider Macrogen Envisions To ‘Help People Live Longer Without Disease’

Macrogen is a genomic research provider that offers sequencing and bioinformatics services, Korea Joongang Daily reported on Oct. 3. Macrogen Inc. was established in 1997. On the same year, the company was by the Ministry of Science and Technology for "high-tech businesses."

Founding CEO Seo Jeong Sun reveals that he created the company when he was still a professor at Seoul National University. He says that the desire to do research compels him to start Macrogen.

"At the time, genome research was thin on the ground in Korea, while the United States invested heavily in the field due to the potential of the bioindustry," Seo says.


When he was asked about the secret behind the success of Macrogen, Seo answers: "When asked that question, I always say that luck was with me."

He goes on, "But luck is not something that just materializes out of thin air. Luck comes when you follow through on your passion and good intentions while staying vigilant about what is going on. Macrogen's vision is to help people live longer without disease."

The genomic research provider carries the slogan, "Humanizing Genomics." Under the management philosophy, it says, "We help improve the quality of life for mankind by enhancing the understanding and availability of human genome information."

In addition, the company also envisions to becoming the "Leader of Asian Biotech industry" with new medicine advancement potential based on "medical treatment/gene information integrated content."

Last year, the South Korean company reached a deal with the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) wherein the two signed a comprehensive Genomics service partnership along with Macrogen X-Genome, as reported by Business Wire on October 13, 2014.

The deal covers that "Macrogen will provide various Genomics services including both the capillary sequencing service and the state-of-art next-generation sequencing (NGS) service to VHIR researchers."

"Given that VHIR's researchers' main efforts are dedicated to enhance citizen's health by applying the latest and more powerful therapeutics and diagnostics tools to patients, the agreement with Macrogen, specially regarding the X-Genome, will definitely be a major advance," says VHIR director Dr. Joan Comella.

In addition, Macrogen CEO Dr. Hyungtae Kim says the deal would allow them to provide "a variety of NGS Sequencing service to VHIR. Specially, Macrogen's X-genome service can help VHIR's efforts to translate genomics research into an improved life quality for patients."

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