Toyobo Co., Ltd. has developed a new diagnostic drug for genetic testing that can accurately identify abnormalities in genes to help select the optimal treatment method. The drug is designed for use in a genetic analyzer, called “next generation sequencer (NGS),” that is widely used in Western countries as well as in China.

Samples of  the diagnostic drug will soon be shipped to research institutions in Japan. Starting next year, the drug will go on sale in China and elsewhere. The company hopes it will bolster its healthcare division. The NGS identifies irregularities in genes that cause cancer in patients. Toyobo’s new diagnostic drug is compatible with the leading sequencer model produced by Illumina, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer,