Bertis Expands MASTOCHECK® into Thailand and the Philippines- Bertis signs a supply agreement with LifeStrands, an innovative clinical genomics company, to launch MASTOCHECK® testing in Thailand and the Philippines- High expectations for rapid adoption of MASTOCHECK®, driven by strong interest from local medical professionals and LifeStrands' extensive network[Image] Analyzing samples sent from a medical institution in the Philippines for MASTOCHECK® testingOn April 21, Bertis, a company specializing in the development of proteomics-based precision medicine technology (led by CEOs Dong-young Noh and Seung-man Han), announced the launch of MASTOCHECK®, a blood test for early breast cancer detection, in Thailand and the Philippines.Bertis has signed a supply agreement with LifeStrands, an innovative clinical genomics company, to initiate MASTOCHECK® testing in the two countries. The sales and marketing of MASTOCHECK® in Thailand and the Philippines will be handled by LifeStrands, which is headquartered in Singapore. The agreement was finalized with LifeStrands on January 10th.LifeStrands, the genomics and life sciences subsidiary of Pathology Asia Group—a leading diagnostic service provider in Southeast Asia—was established in June 2020 and specializes in clinical and translational genomics and provides genomic testing services through its partnered hospital networks across Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.MASTOCHECK® is the world's first proteomics-based blood test for early breast cancer detection developed by Bertis. It diagnoses breast cancer by quantifying three blood-based protein biomarkers and analyzes the results using a patented algorithm. The test has proven efficacy in screening for early-stage breast cancer (stages 0-2) and has been approved as an in vitro diagnostic medical device by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It is currently used in over 500 medical institutions in Korea and has also entered the Singapore market.Seung-man Han, CEO of Bertis, stated, "We are excited to introduce MASTOCHECK® in Thailand and the Philippines through our partnership with LifeStrands, a key player in Southeast Asia. We anticipate rapid adoption in the region, supported by strong interest from local medical professionals and LifeStrands' robust network."Asian women are more likely to have dense breasts compared to Western women. In dense breast tissue, the high proportion of glandular tissue can obscure tumors on mammogram images, making early detection more difficult. As a blood-based diagnostic tool, MASTOCHECK® demonstrates high accuracy even in women with dense breasts. It also ensures consistent results by eliminating variations caused by subjective interpretation and is suitable for young women, women of childbearing age, and pregnant women.

Bertis Signs MOU with COSMAX for Joint Research in Skin Proteomics Analysis-Collaboration to begin with establishing skin proteomics analysis technology, expanding into joint development of skin biomarker panelsand related business initiatives-Expanding the application of proteomics into personalized skin aging care<Photo: From left, COSMAX Group Chairman Kyung-soo Lee, Bertis Co-CEO Dong-young Noh, and Bertis Co-CEO Seung-man Han pose for a commemorative photo during the MOU signing ceremony held at COSMAX’s headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on April 11.>On April 15, Bertis, a company specializing in proteomics-based precision medicine technology (led by CEOs Dong-young Noh and Seung-man Han), announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with COSMAX, a global leader in cosmetic ODM (Original Development and Manufacturing), to collaborate on research in skin proteomics analysis.Under this MOU, the two companies plan to collaborate comprehensively in areas including academic exchange related to skin proteomics analysis technology, joint development of skin biomarker panels, and co-development, production, and commercialization of cosmetic ingredients and formulations.Skin proteomics analysis utilizes advanced proteomic technologies to precisely identify and quantify proteins expressed in skin tissues or cells. This allows for the detailed understanding of physiological changes in the skin and its biological responses to external stimuli. It can be applied to diagnose skin aging, damage, regeneration, and irritation, as well as to develop personalized skincare and cosmetic solutions.COSMAX, the world’s top cosmetic ODM company, possesses world-class capabilities in utilizing biological resources and was the first in the world to commercialize microbiome-based skincare in 2019. The collaboration will start with building a foundation for skin proteomics, with plans to expand into database construction, protein profiling by cause of aging, and diagnostic software development.Seung-man Han, CEO of Bertis, stated, "We at Bertis possess unmatched expertise in discovering biomarkers for cancer, aging, and other major diseases through proteomics, and in developing diagnostic and analytical solutions based on those findings. We are excited to collaborate with COSMAX to advance our capabilities in skin proteomics and broaden the application of proteomics technology into personalized skin aging care."Bertis is a leading company in commercializing proteomics technology based on its proprietary ProteoID platform, which spans from protein data analysis to product and service development. In 2019, the company launched MASTOCHECK®, the world’s first proteomics-based blood test for the early detection of breast cancer. Additionally, Bertis offers PASS (Pan-omics Analysis Service & Solution), an integrated omics analysis solution that provides customized results tailored to the needs of clients across the biotech and CDMO industries—from basic R&D to novel modality drug development.

Bertis Appoints Global Life Sciences Innovation and Sustainability ExpertDr. David Berryto Scientific Advisory Board - Dr. David Berry, a global authority in innovation and sustainable management, has participated in founding over 30 companies, including Moderna- First collaboration with a Korean company as a Scientific Advisory Board member, supporting Bertis’ global expansion[Image] Dr. David BerryOn February 6th, Bertis, a company specializing in proteomics-based precision medicine technology (led by CEOs Dong-young Noh and Seung-man Han), announced that it has appointed Dr. David Berry, a world-renowned authority on innovation and sustainable management in the life sciences, as a member of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).Dr. David Berry, who received hisMD from Harvard Medical School and PhD in Biological Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holds over 200 patents in life sciences and other fields. He has co-founded more than 30 companies, including 7 valued at over $1 billion. Notably, Dr. Berry contributed to the establishment of Moderna, a company developing mRNA technology-based vaccines and therapeutics.As a globally recognized expert in innovation and sustainable management, Dr. Berry currently serves as an Emeritus member of the Leadership Council for the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN). His achievements have been widely recognized: he was named an Innovator of the Year in 2007 by the MIT Technology Review, a 2014 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and one of 12 Innovators Helping Reshape Reality by the U.S. State Department.Dr. Berry's appointment to Bertis' Scientific Advisory Board draws significant attention as it marks his first collaboration with a Korean company. Bertis aims to leverage Dr. Berry's extensive experience and expertise as an innovation leader, inventor, and entrepreneur to formulate its global expansion strategy and establish itself as a leading company in proteomics-based precision medicine technology on the world stage. Dr. David Berry stated, "Bertis possesses world-class proprietary technology in clinical proteomics and is leading the realization of precision medicine through early disease diagnosis and personalized treatment activation. I look forward to contributing to the global dissemination of Bertis' proteomics-based precision medicine technology and driving innovation in the medical field." Seung-man Han, CEO of Bertis, emphasized, "Since ourfounding in 2014, Bertishas built a globally competitivetechnological framework through continuous challenges and achieved commercialization and technological development in proteomics, includingmulti-protein biomarker-basedblood tests. Weexpect our collaboration withDr. Berry to be a significantboost in elevating Bertis to the next level as aglobally competitive precision medicine technology company, building on the technological achievements we've accumulated overthe past decade."

Bertis Participates in '2024 Pink Festival' to Raise Awareness of the Importance of Regular Breast Cancer Screenings- Participating as an event sponsor, operating a promotional booth to enhance breast health awareness and deliver useful information on regular breast cancer screenings, including MASTOCHECKOn October 10th, Bertis, a company specializing in proteomics-based precision medicine technology (led by CEOs Dong-young Noh and Seung-man Han), announced that it will participate as a sponsor in the 2024 Pink Festival held at Yongsan Park on October 13th to conduct promotional activities highlighting the importance of regular breast cancer screenings.The Pink Festival, held as part of the Pink Ribbon Campaign, is co-hosted by the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation, the Korean Breast Cancer Society, and the Korean Cancer Association to encourage greater awareness of breast cancer and the importance of regular screenings among women. Now in its 24th year, the event will be attended by 1,000 pre-registered participants and will feature various breast health programs, including a 3km run, GX programs, consultations with medical professionals, and a mini concert.In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Bertis will sponsor the 2023 Pink Festival and operate a promotional booth at the event. The booth will feature a quiz event aimed at attendees, highlighting the importance of early breast cancer detection and providing useful information about regular breast cancer screenings, including Bertis's early detection blood test, MASTOCHECK®.MASTOCHECK® is the world’s first proteomics-based early detection test for breast cancer, launched by Bertis in 2019. It has demonstrated its effectiveness in diagnosing stage 0 to 2 breast cancer and received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2019. As a blood test, MASTOCHECK® can be performed on women in their 20s and 30s, for whom mammography is not recommended, and about 100,000 tests were conducted in 2023 alone. MASTOCHECK® is currently implemented in more than 500 hospitals and health screening centers in Korea.Seung-man Han, CEO of Bertis, said, “We participated in the Pink Festival to inform more women, including those in their 20s and 30s of the importance of breast health and to encourage regular breast cancer screenings. We will do our best to continuously contribute to activating early diagnosis by raising awareness and providing useful solutions based on easily accessible blood tests for the early detection of major diseases, including breast cancer, in medical settings.”

Bertis Presents Blood Test Model for Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis with 92% Accuracy Based on 13 Biomarkers- Presenting an exploratory trial result for early diagnosis of PDAC using LC-MS technology effective for disease screening- Conducting a confirmatory trial for pancreatic cancer’s early diagnosis blood test ‘Panccheck,’ having secured blood samples from 513 individuals, including 220 pancreatic cancer patientsOn September 24th, Bertis, a company specializing in the development of proteomics-based precision medicine technology (led by CEOs Dong-young Noh and Seung-man Han), announced that the findings on protein biomarkers for the diagnosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were published in the September issue of the prestigious international journal ‘Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.’Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal due to its asymptomatic nature in the early stages, making early detection extremely challenging. Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in very low survival rates. According to data released by the Korea Central Cancer Registry in 2024, the 5-year cancer relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer from 2017 to 2021 is only 15.9%, making it the most difficult to treat among the top 10 cancers. In particular, PDAC, which accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancer, is considered one of the most lethal cancer types with a 5-year average survival rate of less than 10%.Currently, the blood biomarker Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is used for pancreatic cancer screening, but its usefulness is considered limited due to its low positive predictive value. This study focused on developing an effective diagnostic method for PDAC screening based on Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, which allows for the simultaneous and precise quantification of multiple protein biomarkers in blood and is effective for disease screening tests that require economical and rapid analysis of a large number of samples.In this study, the Bertis research team selected 12 protein biomarkers that were differentially expressed in PDAC patients compared to a control group of healthy individuals and/or those with benign pancreatic diseases, using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics techniques. They then developed a Multi-Marker Panel consisting of 13 biomarkers combined with CA19-9. In the next step, they developed a diagnostic test model with improved performance and robustness using machine-learning technology and evaluated its diagnostic performance for PDAC screening. As a result, the model demonstrated an accuracy of 92% for all stages of PDAC and stage 1 to 2 PDAC, showing improved diagnostic performance in all cases compared to when CA19-9 was used alone.Un-beom Kang, Head of the Bertis Biomarker Research Institute and co-leader of the research, stated, “The results of this study represent a significant achievement in providing a useful diagnostic model for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, a particularly hard-to-treat cancer, based on Bertis’ advanced technologies in proteomics, bioinformatics, and machine learning. We are committed to follow-up research and development to ensure that healthcare professionals and patients can utilize this technology in clinical settings, thereby facilitating early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.”Bertis is promoting the commercialization of its blood test, Panccheck®, to aid in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer based on this research achievement. Currently, a confirmatory trial is underway, with blood samples secured from 513 individuals, including 220 pancreatic cancer patients, in preparation for approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Additionally, Bertis is developing an early diagnosis test for ovarian cancer, which has the highest mortality rate among gynecological cancers and lacks effective early detection methods. The marker panel development is complete, and a clinical trial for algorithm enhancement are planned.Seung-man Han, CEO of Bertis, emphasized, “Bertis is working to introduce multi-marker diagnostic solutions with improved accuracy based on more biomarkers for major diseases by adding the latest machine learning technology to the proteomics technology we have developed over the past decade. Building on our capability to commercialize Mastocheck, the world’s first proteomics-based blood testing for early breast cancer diagnosis, we are committed to providing effective early diagnosis solutions for hard-to-treat diseases like pancreatic cancer in clinical practice.”Meanwhile, Bertis combines proteomics and bioinformatics to develop innovative biomarkers for cancer and other major diseases, as well as provides diagnosis and analysis solutions. It succeeded in commercializing proteomics technology with Mastocheck®, the blood testing solution for early breast cancer diagnosis, and PASS (Pan-omics Analysis Service & Solution), an omics analysis solution. Bertis continues to conduct research on early diagnosis solutions for major diseases.