BIONOTE won the prize of "National Tax Tower of 100 billion" on March 3 in recognition of its contribution to national finances as an exemplary taxpayer on the occasion of the 56th Taxpayer's Day. The National Tax Tower of 100 billion is a monument in the name of the president, awarded to a high-value tax corporation with an annual total of more than 100 billion in corporate tax and special rural taxes voluntarily reported and paid by corporations since 2004. Bionote was awarded this time in recognition of its sincere tax payment, contribution to the community, and active contribution to society such as ethical business operation. Bionote CEO Cho Byung-ki said, "It is meaningful to contribute to the creation of a sincere tax culture, contributes to the healthy coexistence of people and animals, and will continue to contribute to the development of national finances through transparent management."
The Korea Animal Health Product Association (KAHPA) announced that In 2021, Bionote was awarded a commendation from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for its contribution to the development of the animal medicine industry. BIONOTE Co., Ltd., founded in 2003, is a manufacturer of diagnostic kits and equipment for animal diseases and is equipped with a wide product portfolio, from initial screening tests to molecular diagnosis. In 2019, BIONOTE USA was established, laying the groundwork for the company’s entry into the US market. Based on this, it is expanding its operations in overseas regions such as the United States, Europe, and Latin America, and in 2021, sales of animal products grew 45% year-on-year. A Bionote official said, "We plan to release Vcheck M and biochemical diagnostic test Vcheck C, which can be performed at the site this year." Also, Bionote said, "By presenting a new paradigm for diagnostic tests exclusively for numbers, we will once again gain momentum to achieve great growth."
| The SARS-CoV-2 Antibody for Spike IgG can be detected within 15 minutes | Completed CE mark certification and is awaiting FDA Emergency Use Authorization. Bionote has announced the acquisition of CE marking for its NowCheck™ COVID-19 Spike IgG Test to detect specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. This is the company’s third addition to the existing COVID-19 product portfolio, following the NowCheck™ COVID-19 Ag Test and COVID-19 IgM/IgG Test. Antibody rapid diagnostic test is a widely used screening method for determining antibodies in the blood of people who have been previously infected with or vaccinated against a virus that causes a disease. The test procedure for a rapid test is simple, fast, and efficient, requiring only 15 to 30 minutes without the need for any additional equipment. COVID-19 vaccines are becoming mandatory in many countries around the globe, and among the vaccines, the major type is the mRNA vaccine which uses the spike protein. As the number of people receiving the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine increases, the demand for COVID-19 antibody testing is also growing. Currently, the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for measuring levels of the antibodies for many viral diseases, but as the PRNT requires biological safety level 3 laboratory (BSL3), this testing method has limitations with wide implementation. Compared to the PRNT test, antibody rapid diagnostic test can quickly be performed without any need for a standardized environment. Bionote’s NowCheck COVID-19 Spike IgG Test can detect specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 within 15 minutes. This test also demonstrated high accuracy in the clinical evaluation using a total of 102 serum specimens, with percent positive agreement of 82% (41/50) and percent negative agreement of 100% (52/52). Bionote is expecting the demand for COVID-19 antibody testing to continue to increase as more people receive vaccination and begin to realize the importance of immunity. The company is planning to launch its NowCheck COVID-19 Spike IgG Test in the U.S. market soon after its completion of the U.S FDA EUA. For those who are interested in NowCheck COVID-19 Tests, please contact your local distributor or mail to [bionote@bionote.co.kr].