[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] Samsung Electronics said on June 10 that it has secured the largest shareholder position in U.S.-based biotech firm Element Biosciences through an additional investment of $175 million (approximately 267 billion won).
The investment was made as part of Element’s Series E funding round, following Samsung Electronics’ earlier participation in the company’s Series D round in July 2024.
Founded in 2017 in San Diego, Element Biosciences develops advanced DNA sequencing technologies capable of achieving industry-leading accuracy of 99.99% while significantly reducing analysis costs. DNA sequencing involves decoding the genetic blueprint of living organisms to identify genetic variations and traits.
Samsung Electronics said genomic data obtained through such technologies can be widely applied in the rapidly growing precision medicine sector, including identifying inherited traits, predicting disease risks, enabling early detection and monitoring of genetic conditions, and developing personalized treatment solutions.
The company also highlighted Element’s capabilities in multiomics, a technology that analyzes various biological data—such as RNA and proteins—to better understand how DNA functions in real biological systems.
Industry observers say the investment will allow Samsung Electronics to secure key technologies in the global precision medicine market while strengthening its long-term growth portfolio.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
