Korean genome analyzing firm EDGC and two Chinese universities will conduct joint research into cancer-detecting liquid biopsy and launch the service in China this year.

EDGC, one of the industry's global leaders ― based in Songdo, Incheon ― signed the partnership with Capital Medical University in Beijing and the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center on Jan. 7.

The three agreed to complete the research project in the first half of this year, pass China's National Medical Products Administration screening and launch the service in China before the end of the year.

Liquid biopsy, which can detect cancer in its early stages, has been tested by genome sequencing companies worldwide, including the United States' GRAIL and EDGC leading the Asian market, according to the Korean firm's foreign research and development business team leader Lee Jeong-nam.

"Following the successful completion of this joint research, we will launch the service in the Chinese market this year and also other Asian countries as early as possible, enabling early prognosis of cancer," Lee told The Korea Times.

EDGC has developed the prognosis method using gene sequencing that can detect cancerous cell-bound circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) hidden in circulating free DNA (cfDNA) in blood. The company said the technology was considered almost impossible to achieve only three to four years ago.

Capital Medical University, having one of China's five largest general hospitals, will provide the joint team with medical equipment and professional support. Fudan cancer center in April 2019 started research cooperation on whole genome sequencing with American biotech firm Illumina, proving its quality assets in genome sequencing.