Medizen Humancare
Unleashing The Power Of Genome Analysis

Personalized genome analysis unlocks the ability to accurately predict and prevent diseases through tailored healthcare strategies, and wellness-related genome analysis provides the ability to “self-healthcare.”

Medizen Humancare, the first company in Korea to launch a disease-related genome analysis service at a specialized health screening center in 2013 and currently the largest company in Korea performing disease-related genome analysis (cumulative number of Asian and Korean genome tests by 2024: 1.7 million), has designed a customized gene chip that predicts disease potential based on ethnicity and nationality. The chip uses human whole genome sequencing (WGS) data based on next-generation sequencing and genome-wide association study data and a disease-specific customizing gene chip utilizing genome big data.

It mines and analyzes the genome data generated from experiments using bioinformatics and then provides results through a patented AI-based algorithm. Medizen Humancare’s expert research team developed the algorithm based on results from gene-environment interactions, family history, and disease prevalence by country. Genome testing solutions provide customer-specific insights to individuals, hospitals, health screening centers, pharmaceutical companies, stem cell treatment centers, government agencies, and insurance providers. They claim to offer the world’s fastest genetic testing turnaround, delivering results in just five days. “We leverage our industry expertise to create a path toward a smarter, healthier future,” said Dr. DONG-JIK SHIN, Founder and CEO.

Advancing Health and Redefining Wellness

Building on its commitment to innovation and personalized care, Medizen Humancare offers three premium testing products: M-CHECK (My Genome Check), Lifegene and Telo-Check.

M-CHECK is a genetic testing product for disease occurrence prediction and drug response. Developed in 2012, it has been continually evolved to deliver faster and more accurate results. 172 disease- and drug-related test options are available to consumers, with results delivered within five days. Medizen Humancare conducted extensive testing on Asian populations and is now finalizing the analysis algorithm for western populations.

In an industry where companies offer predetermined test packages with limited choices, Medizen Humancare’s 'DIY' approach allows consumers to select from 172 options. This personalized approach ensures that only the tests chosen by the consumer are analyzed.

A glowing testimonial by a corporate employee, impressed with Medizen Humancare's genetic testing solutions, reads: “Through early detection based on gene testing, I could detect the possibility of stroke at an early stage.”

Lifegene, Medizen Humancare's genome-testing product, is focused on wellness. With a deep understanding of genetic associations related to physical characteristics, the company aids in customized lifestyle recommendations. Genetic associations provide insights into genes related to nutritional health, including metabolism, nutrient absorption, and food sensitivities, helping to create tailored nutrition plans. Genes influencing appetite regulation can guide weight management strategies. If an individual has a genetic predisposition to a high BMI, recommendations may focus on specific dietary changes, exercise routines or metabolic monitoring. Lifegene offers valuable insights into nutrition, exercise, skin health, hair loss, body type, physical traits, biorhythm and potential addictions to alcohol and cigarettes.

Equally impressive is the Telo-Check test, which offers precise insights into an individual’s biological age by measuring telomere length and telomerase activity. Amid growing demand for anti-aging solutions, the team experimented with 3,000 participants, aged 20 to 80, analyzing the results to provide highly accurate and realistic insights. By comparing the biological age obtained from telomere analysis to the actual age, a health management solution is provided. Each individual is provided with a different solution based on their biological age and various lifestyle adjustments are made accordingly. Individuals can take the test again approximately 3 months after the initial results to track the changes in their biological age.

Medizen Humancare also launched an innovative SpoCheck genome test product, paving the way for personalized solutions for athletic performance and injury prevention by identifying genes affecting oxygen uptake and endurance. Considering the variations in genes affecting muscle composition, endurance and recovery, the team can offer personalized fitness regimens. Understanding genetic factors in joint stability and connective tissue health helps reduce injury risks. Medizen Humancare's exercise genome test is the only one certified by the Korean government.

Beyond offering individual genome tests, Medizen Humancare collaborates with companies in various fields to provide solutions based on test results. It partners with leading domestic and international specialized medical institutions for disease prediction tests and collaborates with pharmaceutical and health supplement companies for nutritional genome tests.

In the field of exercise genome testing, it works with specialized training institutions, rehabilitation centers and professional sports teams. For skin and hair genome tests, it joins hands with stem cell, cosmetics and personal care product companies.

Expanding the scope of its offerings, Medizen Humancare has introduced disease prediction genetic testing as part of the services at specialized health screening centers. Most employees in Korea undergo mandatory health screenings every one to two years. Medizen Humancare sets itself apart by analyzing genetic data specific to Koreans and Asians, ensuring greater relevance and accuracy than other providers.

Building a Smarter Healthcare Ecosystem

Pioneering the future of precision healthcare, Medizen Humancare leverages AI to transform genomic data into actionable insights. It collaborates with large hospitals and AI platform companies to secure premium datasets, laying the foundation for its genomic big data business. Over 250 contracted medical institutions develop personalized programs by combining clinical, diagnostic and genetic information to predict diseases. They also introduce mental health solutions to enhance well-being.

The AI platform companies develop a genetic examination history and standardize genomic datasets. They also facilitate genetic testing among medical institutions and the general public.

Medizen Humancare also established the big bio data banking and data sales required for disease prevention, healthcare and precision medicine.

Patient data is gathered from medical institutions, clinical tests and mobile health devices, while health agencies and personal diagnostic kits provide insights from healthy individuals. This data is compiled into a long-term cohort database, enabling continuous tracking and analysis for enhanced insights into individual and population health trends.

“Improved screening and high diagnosis accuracy are key benefits of our big bio data,” says Dr. SHIN.

The big bio database undergoes rigorous processing using advanced technologies, including WGS and multi-omics, to better understand disease mechanisms, identify new drug candidates, and develop personalized medical interventions. Robust data security and privacy protocols, informed consent, and equitable access are established to ensure data security and privacy.

The big biodata ecosystem serves three critical domains; medicine, research and industry. It facilitates improved disease prediction and personalized precision medicine in the medical field. Researchers benefit from large, high-quality datasets that support studies on disease mechanisms, foster innovation in drug development, and drive convergence research using AI and multiomics. The industrial sector gains opportunities to develop new healthcare technologies and medical devices by commercializing big bio data.

The analysis of large datasets facilitates the discovery of biomarkers that signal the early stages of diseases. Big data and AI convergence models analyze this genomic data with lifestyle and environmental data to develop predictive tools to detect hereditary conditions and early warning signs of diseases, often before symptoms manifest. Data banking also enhances disease surveillance by analyzing epidemiological patterns to effectively control infectious disease outbreaks, ensuring timely responses. Chronic disease trends are tracked, facilitating better resource allocation. Centralized data banks foster global health monitoring by enabling cross-border collaboration, allowing for detecting and managing health threats.

Big bio data banks also help revolutionize real-time health monitoring by integrating IoT devices. Data from wearable devices and sensors continuously feeds into these banks, enabling health tracking and dynamic risk monitoring. Integrating diverse data types, such as genetic, clinical and imaging information, significantly enhances the reliability of diagnostic algorithms.

Toward A Promising Future

Steering ahead, Medizen Humancare is providing new gene testing and healthcare solutions guided by strategic research and collaborations. The team plans to launch “Epi-Check”, an epigenome test that tracks genome structure changes influenced by environmental factors, and “micro R-Check,” which utilizes micro RNA whole-genome analysis, a new emerging field in disease development and anti-aging. Epigenetic markers, including micro RNA will be integrated to better predict gene-environment interactions and their role in disease progression. It is investing heavily in advanced genomic technologies, developing proprietary algorithms to assess disease risk based on omics high-throughput database and expanding capabilities for WGS to uncover comprehensive genetic variations linked to diseases.

The company also aims to develop AI-driven predictive analytics, automating variant classification to accelerate diagnostic insights from genome data. It is also building mobile apps to provide customers with insights, reports and actionable recommendations. To expand its outreach and customer base, it is planning to offer genomic analysis training programs for healthcare professionals and launch public awareness campaigns to promote the value of genomic insights in disease prevention and management.

Strategizing research and development, the team is exploring CRISPR-based applications to investigate gene-editing solutions for hereditary disease prevention while researching how lifestyle and environmental factors modulate genetic risks.

A go-to genome analysis solution provider, Medizen Humancare is creating a transformative wave in disease prediction and prevention.