Samsung Electronics made an additional investment in U.S. gene analysis equipment corporations Element Biosciences and secured the status of largest shareholder.
Samsung Electronics said on the 10th that it participated in Element's Series E round and executed an additional $175 million equity investment. Samsung Electronics had previously taken part in Element's Series D round in Jul. 2024. The expanded investment is not expected to change Element's management control.
Element is a gene analysis equipment corporations founded in 2017 in San Diego, United States. It holds DNA sequencing technology with industry-leading 99.99% accuracy and is expanding its presence in the global market with equipment that lowers analysis expense.
DNA sequencing is a technology that reads the DNA base sequence, which serves as the blueprint of living organisms, to identify genetic variations and traits. Through this, it can be used to understand innate genetic characteristics, predict diseases, enable early diagnosis, and develop personalized treatments.
The areas Samsung Electronics focused on are Element's next-generation gene sequencing and multi-omics technology. Multi-omics is a technology that analyzes a variety of biological information together, including not only DNA but also RNA and proteins. Beyond what information DNA contains, it can identify how it actually works and changes inside the body, making it a core technology of next-generation Precision Medicine.
Previously, DNA, RNA, and proteins had to be analyzed with separate devices and then the results recombined, creating significant time and expense burdens. Element is developing technology that, with a single device, can simultaneously analyze DNA, RNA, and proteins—as well as cellular changes over time.
Element launched the mid-range DNA sequencing device "AVITI" in 2022 and has been expanding its product lineup. In 2024, it introduced "AVITI 24," which analyzes genomic information and cellular changes along a time axis. It is also preparing to launch "VitaRi," which increases analysis throughput fivefold compared with existing products while cutting expense to less than half, and "AVITI Dx," which can be used in hospital laboratories for customized anticancer drug prescriptions.
Samsung Electronics plans to strengthen its collaboration with Element through this investment. The idea is to combine Element's DNA sequencing and multi-omics analysis technology with Samsung Electronics' AI, medical devices, and digital health technologies to seek new business opportunities such as next-generation genetic diagnostics.
Element is expected to accelerate improving DNA sequencing accuracy and lowering analysis expense by leveraging Samsung Electronics' AI and IT capabilities. There is also an outlook that if genomic data is combined not only with hospital clinical data but also with everyday life data such as sleep and exercise, it could expand into personalized medical services.
Roh Tae-Moon, president of Samsung Electronics, said, "A synergy for the future of personalized medicine will be created by combining Samsung Electronics' expertise in AI, medical devices, and digital health with Element's innovative genomic analysis technology," and added, "We will continue to invest across a wide range of fields, from precision medical devices to digital health."