Samsung will join as a strategic investor in U.S. biotechnology corporations GRAIL, which has technology to diagnose cancer early using only a blood draw from people without symptoms.
Samsung C&T and Samsung Electronics said on the 16th (local time) they will invest $110 million (about 155 billion won) in GRAIL.
GRAIL optimally selects minute DNA fragments associated with cancer among hundreds of millions of DNA fragments in the blood and analyzes them with artificial intelligence (AI)-based genomic data technology, enabling it to predict not only whether cancer has developed but also the organ where the cancer originated.
Based on various clinical trial results, GRAIL's product "Galleri" can detect more than 50 types of cancer early with a single blood test.
Since its 2021 launch, it has recorded about 400,000 cumulative tests to date and is conducting large-scale clinical trials with the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. In addition, GRAIL plans to apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Galleri test next year.
Through this investment, Samsung C&T secured exclusive distribution rights for the Galleri test in Korea. It also plans to work with GRAIL in Singapore, Japan, and other markets.
Samsung Electronics also plans to seek strategic collaboration to link GRAIL's technological capabilities and accumulated gene-based early cancer detection data with the Samsung Health platform to provide users with an innovative health management experience.
Kim Jae-woo, vice president in charge of the life sciences business at Samsung C&T, said, "Through this investment and strategic collaboration, Samsung C&T has created an opportunity to expand its bio and healthcare investment portfolio into a technology field that fuses genes and AI."
Park Heon-su, Head of Team of the Digital Health Team in the MX Division at Samsung Electronics, said, "We will work to integrate GRAIL's clinical genomic data and technological capabilities into Samsung Electronics' digital health platform to deliver a personalized digital health experience."
Harpal Kumar, president of GRAIL's international business, said, "We have formed a partnership with Samsung to offer multi-cancer early detection services in Asia, starting with Korea," adding, "Samsung's investment has greatly helped us achieve key milestones for insurance coverage of the Galleri test in the United States and major markets."
Meanwhile, Samsung C&T, through a life sciences fund jointly invested with Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis, has invested in U.S. blood-based Alzheimer's test technology corporations C2N and Flagship Pioneering Fund VIII in the United States.
Samsung Electronics has also invested in U.S. DNA analysis equipment corporations Element Biosciences to strengthen its healthcare business and recently acquired U.S. digital healthcare company Zelus.