- Seegene USA's Allplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay receives Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- The multiplex real-time PCR assay is designed to simultaneously detect and differentiate herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and monkeypox virus (MPXV clades I/II and clade II), which are associated with clinically overlapping vesicular, pustular, and ulcerative lesions in a single test
- It is the first multiplex PCR test designed to support differential diagnosis of viral causes of ulcerative skin lesions in the U.S. market.
SEOUL, South Korea, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seegene, Inc. ("Seegene"), a global leader in molecular diagnostics, announced today that its U.S. subsidiary, Seegene USA, Inc. ("Seegene USA"), has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Allplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay, a multiplex real-time PCR assay designed to simultaneously detect multiple viral pathogens associated with clinically overlapping lesion presentations.
Unlike molecular tests currently available that target a single pathogen or a limited pathogen group, the assay is designed to enable the concurrent detection of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1[1], HSV-2[2]), varicella-zoster virus (VZV[3]), and monkeypox virus (MPXV[4]) in a single test. The Allplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay is the first multiplex PCR test designed to simultaneously and differentially detect viral pathogens of ulcerative skin lesions in the U.S. market.
These pathogens frequently present with similar clinical symptoms, vesicular or pustular lesions, that are difficult to distinguish by appearance alone. When clinicians test for only one pathogen at a time, cases caused by the untested viruses can be missed entirely. This product addresses the unmet need in the market for simultaneous evaluation of multiple clinically overlapping pathogens in a single assay.
In a poster presented at the 2024 Clinical Virology Symposium[5], scientists evaluated samples that had previously tested negative using single-pathogen methods and found that a multiplex PCR assay identified HSV, VZV, or MPXV clade I/II in 54 out of 966 of those samples, pointing to a meaningful population of cases that single-target testing can leave undiagnosed.
The Allplex HSV-1&2/VZV/MPXV Assay was developed end-to-end at Seegene USA using Seegene's proprietary high-multiplex PCR technologies, including Dual Priming Oligonucleotide (DPO), Tagging Oligonucleotide Cleavage and Extension (TOCE), and Multiple Detection Temperatures (MuDT), and its automated product development platform (Seegene Digitalized Development System). These technologies enable comprehensive target coverage in a single reaction while maintaining the sensitivity and specificity required for reliable multiplex testing.
"Seegene's high-multiplex PCR technologies have been widely utilized across global markets," said Jun Kim, CEO of Seegene USA. "This authorization marks an important step in bringing those capabilities more fully into the U.S. market through Seegene USA, enabling the development of locally relevant multiplex diagnostic products that support U.S. clinical laboratories and public-health needs."
With this authorization, Seegene USA is positioned to expand its portfolio of locally developed multiplex PCR assays for the U.S. market. The achievement also serves as a meaningful model for Seegene's broader Technology-Sharing Initiative, which supports regional partners in developing and manufacturing multiplex molecular tests tailored to local needs. As the initiative expands globally, Seegene aims to strengthen local development and manufacturing capabilities and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.
[Terminology] |
[1] HSV-1 (Herpes Simplex Virus type 1): The primary virus responsible for oral herpes (cold sores), which typically causes blisters and ulcers around the mouth. |
[2] HSV-2 (Herpes Simplex Virus type 2): The primary virus responsible for genital herpes, causing painful blisters and ulcers in the genital area. |
[3] VZV (Varicella-Zoster Virus): The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. |
[4] MPXV (Monkeypox virus, Mpox virus): The causative virus of Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), a viral disease characterized by skin rashes, blisters, and ulcers. |
[5] Johnson, T., Pineda, S., Kim, B., & Kim, H. (2024, October 9). Detection of HSV, VZV, and MPXV clade I/II in previously negative samples utilizing a multiplex PCR assay [Poster presentation]. Clinical Virology Symposium 2024, Long Beach, CA, United States. |
About Seegene
Seegene is a global molecular diagnostics company with more than 25 years of expertise in research, development and manufacturing of syndromic real-time PCR technologies. The company is widely recognized for its proprietary multiplex PCR technology, which enables the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in a single test.
A core feature of Seegene's syndromic real-time PCR technology is its ability to detect up to 14 pathogens that cause similar signs and symptoms in a single tube while providing quantitative information to support more efficient clinical decision-making.
Seegene's technological capabilities were demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company supplied more than 340 million COVID-19 tests to over 100 countries worldwide.
Building on its molecular diagnostics expertise, Seegene is expanding beyond assay-based diagnostics to develop an integrated diagnostic ecosystem. The company is advancing new technologies including STAgora, a real-time diagnostic data analytics platform, and CURECA, a fully automated PCR system designed to streamline the entire molecular testing workflow.
Through its Technology Sharing Initiative and global partnerships, Seegene aims to broaden access to molecular diagnostics technologies and strengthen global preparedness for infectious diseases.
SOURCE Seegene, Inc.
