History of our SAW biosensor development

In 2008: Joint venture OJ-Bio between JRC and ORLA

OJ-Bio was established in the UK in December 2008 as a joint venture between JRC and ORLA. OJ-Bio aimed to develop unique technologies by combining JRC's SAW technology with ORLA's protein technology. OJ-Bio's goal is to provide home-use POCT immunoassay products. OJ-Bio has received several UK grant projects on influenza, HIV, periodontal disease and has conducted primary research on SAW biosensors with JRC.

In 2015: SAW chip manufacturing contract between JRC and TST

The SAW chip for SAW biosensors has a unique structure and requires special manufacturing processes. JRC developed the production technologies but needed the cooperation of a SAW device manufacturer. JRC made a manufacturing contract of SAW chips for biosensors with TST.

In 2015: joint development contract between TST and OJ-Bio

TST received a Taiwan IDB project for CRP and AFP using SAW biosensors. TST made a joint development contract on SAW biosensors with OJ-Bio and developed SAW biosensors with OJ-Bio/JRC supports in Taiwan.

In 2017: OJ-Bio dissolved. JRC took over all technologies developed at OJ-Bio.

With the development of essential technologies complete, OJ-Bio fulfilled its aims. JRC inherited all assets of OJ-Bio and continued the commercialization in Japan.

In 2018: tstbio span off from TST

TST received the phase-II IDB project for CRP and AFP using SAW biosensors. tstbio was established in 2018, which is a Taiwan-based biomedical electronics span-off company by TST. 

In 2019: JRC/UJRC got PMDA approval for the CRP test kit in Japan.

JRC/UJRC obtained PMDA approval for the CRP test kit, the first in vitro diagnostic product using SAW biosensors. The reader is palm-sized and portable in a bag for visiting doctors. For the advantage, JRC/UJRC has received many inquiries from visiting doctors, nursing care centers, and clinics in rural areas. However, as it was a new market, the market scale was small and insufficient to start commercialization.

In 2020: SAW biosensor technologies were transferred to tstbio

JRC decided to shrink the development project in Japan and continue to support tstbio commercialization in Taiwan. JRC transferred the SAW biosensor technologies to tstbio. The palm-sized reader was taken over by tstbio, and all the protein-coating equipment was transferred to tstbio's plant in Taiwan. All of OJ-Bio's assets, including the Logo/Home page, have also been transferred to tstbio from JRC.

In 2021: tstbio is working on SAW biosensors

tstbio has an automated protein-coating manufacturing line for SAW biosensor chips in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The capacity of the line is over 1 million a year. tstbio has ISO13485, GMP, and a TFDA product certificate for “iProtin Reader” in Taiwan. tstbio has some POCT projects for different protein markers, including COVID-19.

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OJ-Bio: OJ-Bio Limited

ORLA: Orla Protein Technologies Ltd.

JRC: Japan Radio Co., Ltd.

UJRC: Ueda Japan Radio Co.,Ltd.

TST: Tai-SAW technology Co., Ltd.

tstbio: tst biomedical electronics Co., Ltd.