Here are the finalists for the diagnostics track of INVEST Pitch Perfect

It’s been an thrilling 12 months for the diagnostics sector given all of the exercise we’ve seen since Covid-19 grew to become a worldwide pandemic. Finalists for the diagnostics observe at INVEST Pitch Good embrace span biosensors, higher respiratory infections, breast most cancers screening, in vitro mobile immunoassays, dysphagia diagnostics, and neuroscience.

The INVEST Pitch Good contest is a part of our INVEST convention April 19-23, which will likely be hosted on-line on account of Covid-19. It contains 5 tracks for startups: biopharma, medical gadgets, diagnostics, well being IT and well being providers.

Click on right here to see the remainder of the agenda.

Finalists fulfill one of the next standards:

• Raised at the very least $1 million; 
• Raised a Sequence A spherical; 
• Have at the very least one certified institutional investor or strategic investor

Judges for the observe embody:

Listed below are the finalists:

CEO: Eric Mayer

Headquarters: Knoxville, TN

EDP Biotech develops and commercializes handy, cost-effective diagnostics which detect illness early.

CEO: Edward Gillen

Founder: Bruce Batten (CSO)

Headquarters: St. Paul, MN

GRIP Molecular’s single-use biosensor and cell app gives customers extremely correct and complete medical diagnostic data in minutes, anytime and anyplace. The patented, graphene-enabled solid-state digital platform expertise is simple to make use of and doesn’t require chemical reagents or a separate reader. GRIP’s underlying expertise can concurrently detect the presence of infectious illness pathogens and characterize the host response, together with the immune response, to allow information-enabled prognosis and the speedy utility of acceptable remedy. The primary product will concurrently present diagnostic data for COVID-19, Influenza A/B and different widespread higher respiratory infections. Proof of idea has been accomplished and growth is underway with preliminary product launch anticipated in 2023.

Founder and CEO: David Ure

Headquarters: Raleigh, NC and Sioux Falls, SD

Inanovate has developed a patented blood evaluation system (the Bio-ID) that improves the fee, accessibility, and accuracy of diagnostic checks. The primary utility of the Bio-ID is a brand new blood take a look at for use as a complement to mammography to assist cut back false constructive leads to breast most cancers screening. Roughly 10% of the 39 million screening mammograms carried out yearly within the US require follow-up testing to resolve the prognosis, but greater than 95% of those are ‘false positives’ during which no most cancers is detected. The financial value of false-positive mammograms is ~$4 billion, and >1 million ladies are uncovered to dangers related to subsequent diagnostics. Inanovate seeks to handle this situation via a easy, cheap blood take a look at, that can present further knowledge on a sufferers most cancers danger to assist inform clinicians whether or not comply with up procedures are vital.

CEO and CSO: Enrique Hernández

Headquarters: Barcelona Spain and Dallas, TX

Loop Diagnostics is a novel first-in-class in vitro mobile immunoassay that identifies sepsis after the first-hour of bloodstream an infection. We have now developed a patented methodology and package (with disposable) to determine immune exercise biomarkers, that’s 3x extra delicate than the present biomarker competitor (PCT) and gives a 10x quicker prognosis than pathogen identification. Our biomarker seems after the primary hour of an infection, lengthy earlier than PCT can detect the presence of Sepsis. This may permit healthcare professionals to start correct remedy earlier – decreasing the severity of the illness and lowering the variety of antibiotics or different medicine vital for remedy.

Co-founders: Michael Peck (CEO) and Correy Trupp (COO)

Headquarters: Leawood, KS

Patheous Well being is constructing a Dysphagia Care-as-a-Service (CaasSD) enterprise to enhance entry to feeding and swallow healthcare for senior care suppliers. Our diagnostic and therapeutic options affect sufferers that endure from swallowing impairment and vitamin consumption in a number of care settings, together with expert nursing, residence well being, in-patient rehabilitation, assisted dwelling and neighborhood dwelling adults. Patheous Well being closed the Sequence A spherical in March 2020 and purchased the most important US supplier of onsite dysphagia diagnostics. The acquisition offered instant revenues and 375 senior care supplier facility purchasers. We’re constructing on our buyer base, increasing our value-based service, and constructing a deep channel to introduce our Dysphagic Care-as-a-Service platform. Our staff consists of world-class consultants in dysphagia analysis and care and supported by skilled executives that know how you can construct a scientific care enterprise.

Co-founders: Amir Bozorgzadeh (CEO) and Hossein Jalali (CTO)

Headquarters: Lisbon, Portugal

Virtuleap unlocks neuroscience with digital actuality to assist pharmaceutical corporations speed up the approval of medicine designed to deal with cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s illness.

Photograph: Adam Taylor, Getty Photos