Bertis Signs Global Joint R&D MOU with the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany

- Bertis-Fraunhofer IZI seek cooperation for global joint R&D for a proteomics-based early diagnosis solution
- Fraunhofer IZI first contacted Bertis with a proposal of cooperation, and it will be an opportunity for Bertis’ technology

to be internationally recognized and a foothold for acquiring European certification and pushing into the global market.

<Fraunhofer IZI in Germany>

Bertis (CEO: Seung-man Han), a proteomics-based early diagnosis technology development company, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (Fraunhofer IZI) signed an MOU for global joint R&D for a proteomics-based early-stage diagnosis solution on the 21st. 1

The Fraunhofer IZI is a cell therapy and immunology institute based in Fraunhofer. It is a national research institute that represents Europe as well as Germany. As one of seven affiliated research institutes making up the Fraunhofer Group for Life Sciences, it is world-renowned in the field of cancer research, including cell therapy products, immunology, and early diagnosis.

This MOU was possible because the Fraunhofer IZI positively assessed the technology of Bertis and initiated the contact. Both institutions plan to actively pursue joint research and exchanges of academic information through cooperation, including △ Cooperation in research into proteomics-based early diagnosis technology, △ Scientific research data exchange between the two institutions, and the △ Hosting of joint symposiums, seminars, workshops, and conferences. In particular, the two institutions will conduct △ A comparative study on the tumor marker expression of European (German) and Asian (Korean) patients, △ Development of an algorithm for serum tumor marker investigation and early diagnosis and prediction and △ Development of therapeutic peptides and assessment of their efficacy, to develop and commercialize early-stage diagnosis technology for cancer.1  

Han Seung-man, CEO of Bertis said, “This MOU with Fraunhofer of Germany is significant because it shows the global recognition of Bertis’ technology in the proteomics-based early diagnosis and the MOU contract from a world-renowned cancer research institution”. He also added, "MOU established the possibility of EU certification and the global market entering. We will work actively to create momentum to enter the diagnosis area in Asia and Europe with Bertis' technology and Fraunhofer's excellent research ability."

MASTOCHECK proves the technology of Bertis, a multi-biomarker-based breast cancer early diagnosis solution, and the foundation of this MOU. MASTOCHECK expects to become an innovative diagnosis solution that will overcome the limits of existing breast cancer screening methods and contribute to the promotion of early diagnosis of breast cancer. MASTOCHECK has high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of breast cancer, as its base is on multi-biomarkers, compared to other diagnosis methods using a single biomarker. It also makes it very easy and convenient to diagnose breast cancer as it uses patients’ blood. In recognition of these features, MASTOCHECK received a patent by the Korean Intellectual Property Office in 2014, and it currently has nine patents from four countries—Korea, U.S.A., China, and Japan.2,3 Following the acquisition of a license from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, early this year recognized MASTOCHECK as an innovative medical technology that can enter a global market and obtain meaningful results with the receipt of New Excellent Technology (NET) certification in September.4,5

1) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between Bertis Inc. and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
2) Korean Intellectual Property Office. Patent registration 10-1431062: A breast cancer diagnostic kit containing a multibiomarker set for breast cancer diagnosis, its detection method and antibodies
3) Overseas patents of MASTOCHECK: U.S.A. (10184943, 2018), China (ZL201380013325.7, 2017) and Japan (6096813, 2017)
4) Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s medical device e-petition site. MASTOCHECK product information (license no.: Heo 19-5). Accessed Oct 15, 2019 at https://emed.mfds.go.kr/#!CECAB01F020
5) Korea Health Industry Development Institute press release. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute hosted the 2019 2nd New Excellent Technology (NET) Certification Awards Ceremony. Accessed Oct 15, 2019 at https://www.khidi.or.kr/board/view?pageNum=1&rowCnt=10&no1=2128&linkId=48797272&menuId=MENU00100&maxIndex=00487972949998&minIndex=00487355949998&schType=0&schText=&schStartDate=&schEndDate=&boardStyle=&categoryId=&continent=&country