PROTIA Ushers in a New Era of Immune Management… “Just 15 Minutes”

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[Edaily Reporter Yoo Jin-hee] Diagnostic device specialist PROTIA (303360) is ushering in an era of personalized immune management. Its strategy is to shift the market paradigm and establish a new platform for growth by introducing the world’s first non-invasive immune diagnostic product, following its industry-leading allergy diagnostic device and the world’s first capacitance-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing device.

Commercialization of the World’s First Non-Invasive Immune Diagnostic Product

According to industry sources on the 29th, PROTIA recently began full-scale sales of IMSAFE Saliva, the world’s first saliva-based diagnostic device for immune substances.

IMSAFE Saliva quantitatively measures immunoglobulin A, or IgA, a protein located at the forefront of the body’s immune defenses, and provides an intuitive indication of an individual’s overall immune balance. IgA is mainly found in saliva, tears, and the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, where it serves as the first line of defense against invading pathogens. When IgA levels decline, the body becomes more vulnerable to infectious diseases such as enteritis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, while the risk of allergic and autoimmune diseases also increases. As its levels respond sensitively to various factors, including stress, sleep deprivation, exercise, and diet, IgA has recently gained attention as an important biomarker for everyday health management.

The greatest advantage of IMSAFE Saliva is that it can assess immune health within 15 minutes using only a few drops of saliva, rather than a blood sample. Conventional immune diagnostic devices require blood collection and analysis using specialized equipment. In contrast, IMSAFE Saliva was developed using PROTIA’s proprietary patented technology, allowing users to visually check the results without separate equipment. The reagent kit can also be stored at room temperature, making distribution and storage convenient.

A PROTIA official said, “When a patient with IgA deficiency receives a blood transfusion, anti-IgA antibodies may cause anaphylaxis, an acute allergic reaction, and renal function may also deteriorate rapidly. Knowing one’s usual immune health status, particularly whether secretory IgA antibody levels are adequate, can greatly help with the early detection or prevention of disease.”

IMSAFE Saliva is expected to establish itself rapidly in both domestic and overseas markets compared with conventional blood-based immune substance diagnostic devices. Because it is based on saliva testing, it can be sold in domestic and international markets without medical device approval. Consumers can also use it directly without assistance from professionals such as physicians.

The product has already entered overseas markets through actual distribution agreements in major markets, including Canada. As more than half of PROTIA’s total revenue is generated overseas, sales are expected to expand rapidly through its existing distribution network.

Although exact statistics are not yet available, the market is estimated to be substantial. According to market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global immune health supplements market is expected to grow from USD 203.2 billion, approximately KRW 287 trillion, in 2024 to USD 444 billion, approximately KRW 620 trillion, by 2032. This suggests that demand for personalized immune substance diagnostic devices will increase accordingly.

Three Major Cash Cows Expected to Support KRW 50 Billion in Revenue Within Three Years

PROTIA’s growth is expected to accelerate further with the launch of the new product, alongside PROTIA Allergy-Q 192D and PROTIA AST, which entered full-scale sales in the second half of the year. PROTIA Allergy-Q can test for the world’s largest number of allergens in a single diagnostic test. It holds an undisputed No. 1 position in the domestic market, with an approximately 45% share based on the number of tests performed, and is sold in 70 countries worldwide. According to market research firm GMI, the global allergy diagnostics market is expected to grow from USD 6.1 billion, approximately KRW 8 trillion, in 2025 to USD 13.4 billion, approximately KRW 19 trillion, by 2034.

PROTIA AST is an antimicrobial susceptibility testing device that reduces a test that previously took three days to less than four hours. The company recently began expanding global sales, starting with the European market. The global antimicrobial susceptibility testing market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.5%, from USD 4.1 billion, approximately KRW 6 trillion, in 2024 to USD 5.6 billion, approximately KRW 8 trillion, by 2030.

Based on these new products, PROTIA aims to achieve annual revenue of KRW 50 billion within three years and KRW 100 billion within five years. Its confidence is supported by its recent growth. PROTIA’s revenue in the first half of this year reached KRW 6.54 billion, up 41.5% from the same period last year. More than half of this revenue came from exports.

A PROTIA official said, “We will grow into a global diagnostic device company by expanding our product portfolio across allergy diagnostics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and immune management. At the same time, we will pursue growth as a solid company with both profitability and scale.”

Source: Edaily