Seegene leads the way toward ‘a world free from all diseases' with Azure AI

Seegene is a total PCR molecular diagnostics solution provider with a corporate vision of creating "a world free from all diseases.” In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, Seegene successfully developed a diagnostic assay in just two weeks, significantly raising the profile of Korea’s pandemic response, often referred to as “K-quarantine.” Operating seven subsidiaries worldwide, Seegene generates 90% of its revenue from overseas, firmly establishing itself as a global company.

Seegene's proprietary syndromic qPCR test is the only technology in the world capable of detecting 14 pathogens that cause similar symptoms in a single tube, even providing quantitative values on disease severity. In 2024, Seegene launched a technology-sharing initiative in collaboration with Microsoft and Springer Nature to foster collaboration with life scientists around the world.

Advancing a technology-sharing initiative through partnership with Microsoft

YS Baeg, Senior VP of Corporate Strategic Planning at Seegene, emphasizes the importance of the company’s partnership with Microsoft in pushing forward its technology-sharing initiative. “Azure AI drives automation of Seegene’s core research, enabling global experts—even without PCR experience—to contribute based on their expertise. Azure HPC also accelerates genome analysis, supporting simultaneous global collaboration.”

Seegene chose Azure AI not only for its performance, but also for its strong compatibility with widely used global tools. Considering the integration with global standard tools like Microsoft 365, the company believed it could gain a competitive edge quickly. For effective data sharing with global partners, a highly compatible platform was essential, and Azure provided both universality and a strong global track record.

Seegene also adopted Azure HPC (High Performance Computing) for its genome analysis processes. HPC is a computing technology used primarily for handling large-scale parallel processing tasks, such as complex computations, analysis, and simulations. With Azure HPC, Seegene was able to address two major challenges. The first was scalability: expanding its on-premises HPC infrastructure not only faced physical limitations but also required significant capital investment. By transitioning to Azure, Seegene gained the flexibility to scale according to workload demands, offering a significant cost advantage. The second was compliance and disaster recovery. As Seegene expands globally, meeting country-specific regulations and implementing robust disaster recovery systems is crucial. In this regard, Microsoft provides trusted infrastructure and deep experience, instilling confidence in Seegene’s operations.

Transforming Research and Analysis with Azure AI and Azure HPC

Beyond these overall benefits, what matters most for Seegene is the transformation of its R&D processes. Seegene’s product development is structured into three stages: the first is basic research, followed by in silico simulation to pre-validate candidate gene sequences, and finally, the production and testing of actual products.

Kim DoHee, General Manager of IT Strategy Group at Seegene, says that adopting Azure AI has maximized the efficiency of data analysis work. “Previously, manual analysis required four experts working for a month to plan a diagnostic product. With Azure AI, a non-expert can now complete the task in a day—reducing workload by 75% and greatly improving efficiency. Large-scale gene analysis time is also expected to drop from 7 hours to 20 minutes.”

Through its Azure AI-based development platform, Seegene anticipates being able to collaborate with over 40,000 researchers globally and develop more than 1,000 diagnostic assays simultaneously. In the initial research phase, Azure OpenAI helps analyze vast amounts of academic papers and web content quickly. These documents are first converted into vector databases, with PDF files being digitized using Document Intelligence. Azure AI Search is then used to extract relevant data efficiently, and the GPT engine of Azure OpenAI summarizes the key points. In addition, custom AI agents are generated based on specific analysis objectives to improve precision.

While every stage of R&D is important, the pre-validation of gene sequence compatibility is considered the core process. Jay Ryu, Director of IT Strategy Group at Seegene, states that Azure HPC has helped them accomplish this task effectively. 

“In silico refers to a computer-based simulation process that identifies candidate target gene sequences and determines their optimal combinations. Using Azure’s AMD-based high-performance computing, we enable distributed processing—greatly accelerating analysis and boosting research productivity.”

A Roadmap Co-Designed by Seegene and Microsoft

YS Baeg emphasizes that collaboration with Microsoft has become an integral part in realizing Seegene’s corporate vision and expanding its business. 
“What’s most satisfying about working with Microsoft is not just Azure’s performance and security. Through the Innovation Hub and Unified Support programs, Microsoft has offered tailored guidance and expert support—proving to be a true business partner throughout our journey.”

Seegene plans to expand its business model across all domains by sharing its unique syndromic qPCR development technology, enabling scientists worldwide to contribute to its mission of “a world free from all diseases.” To support the massive data analysis this initiative will require, Seegene completed a 2024 proof of concept (PoC) validating Microsoft Fabric, an AI-based data platform. Built on the Azure ecosystem, Seegene will continue to collaborate closely with Microsoft through every stage of its innovation journey from development and regulatory approval to marketplace deployment, growing together.