Seoul’s MedTech Trailblazer, Apollon, Partners with MIT to Forge the Future of Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring
SEOUL, South Korea — In a daring fusion of minds across continents, the stage is set for Apollon Inc., the audacious medtech maverick hailing from Seoul, to dance hand-in-hand with the Laser Biomedical Research Center (LBRC) at the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Their collective mission: to orchestrate the creation of a new era in healthcare through non-invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology.
At the helm of this scientific symphony stand luminaries of innovation: Dr. Peter So, the maestro of Mechanical and Biological Engineering and the guiding light of MIT’s LBRC, alongside the ingenious Dr. Jeonwoong Kang from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Apollon’s expertise, a blend of Raman diagnostics prowess and spectrometer wizardry, sets the stage for a transformative collaboration. Watch closely, as the esteemed Dr. Youngkyu Kim of Apollon takes on the role of a visiting scientist, crossing borders in the name of discovery.
The tale finds its roots in the captivating pages of a 2020 chapter, where Dr. Kang unveiled a scientific odyssey within the prestigious halls of Science Advances. This chapter held the secret to measuring glucose without the prick of a needle, instead harnessing the dance of laser light upon the skin. The National Institutes of Health and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology extended their patronage to this narrative. With an enchanting flourish, the revelation surfaced—a preclinical error rate (MARD) of 6.6%, outshining the achievements of its CGM contemporaries. Now, the narrative leaps forward, the characters venturing into the realm of human application, striving to condense this marvel into a device that snugly embraces the body.
The tale takes a deeper dive into the magic of Raman spectroscopy, where the soul of a substance sings through its vibrations when touched by the wand of laser light. Renowned for its power to identify without intrusion, this art shall guide their journey.
A vision crafted by the medtech luminary, Aram Hong, gave birth to Apollon in 2021. On this stage, two guiding stars shine: Professor Jun Ki Kim and Dr. Miyeon Jue from the Asan Medical Center, the scientific advisor and the CTO, respectively.
“Witness the merging of MIT’s brilliance and our innovation—an alliance uncommon but destined. This, I believe, is a triumphant stride toward the dawn of a new CGM era,” declares Aram Hong, the architect of Apollon’s dreams.
This quest has witnessed valiant attempts since the dawn of the 21st century, yet FDA’s blessing and the embrace of the masses remained elusive. Dr. Jue, the CTO, heralds a new chapter, affirming that the last few years have unveiled strides in image sensors and miniature spectroscopy—realms where Korean mastery flourishes. From clinical findings to FDA’s embrace, Apollon’s course charts a trajectory toward realization, culminating in a triumphant crescendo of commercialization within five years.
The stage is set, the tale spun, as Seoul’s Apollon and MIT unite in the name of discovery, transcending borders, and defying conventions to illuminate the path to a healthier tomorrow.