3BIGS said on Wednesday that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bangalore Gastro Center (BGC), a hospital specializing in digestive diseases in India, to research and treat digestive diseases based on the gut microbiome.
The collaboration aims to provide end-to-end personalized diagnostic services from sample collection to referral to a nutritionist or physician for optimal medical support.
With the increasing prevalence of digestive disorders worldwide, there is a need for early detection and effective treatment of digestive disorders, said a 3BIGS company official. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global microbiome market is expected to reach approximately $110 billion this year, with high growth potential.
Trillions of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses coexist in the human body. Poor lifestyle and dietary habits, mental stress, aging, and antibiotics can cause an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiome, leading to chronic digestive problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, intestinal infections, liver disease, food intolerances, and colon cancer.
However, analyzing the gut microbiome can predict the health conditions a person may suffer from in the future and help prevent more serious chronic digestive diseases.
"This is the first time a Korean company is collaborating with an Indian hospital to jointly research and develop a gut microbiome test kit,” said Dr. Yogananda Reddy, who founded BGC in Bangalore, India, after working as a gastroenterologist in the UK for over 20 years. “We are honored to collaborate with 3BIGS, a pioneer in data mining and an expert in AI and bioinformatics, whose products related to the gut microbiome will help millions of patients in India to prevent digestive diseases and improve gut health."
"As gut microbiome research is expanding globally due to an increase in chronic digestive cases in the younger population, we are pleased to collaborate with BGC, a hospital that has a futuristic approach and adopts advanced technology for seamless growth in the diagnostic market," added 3BIGS CEO Park Jun-hyung. "With a high percentage of vegetarians and people of different religions living together, the diversity of their dietary habits makes it the best place to study gut microbiome diversity.”
Based on the joint research with BGC, 3BIGS will prepare to enter the global gut microbiome market, including the United States, Europe, and Asia, Dr. Park went on to say.