Geneva-based startup ABCDx develops diagnostic solutions for brain injuries. Its portable AI-based device, LVOCheck, is designed to identify biomarkers associated with Large Vessel Occlusion strokes within 15 minutes. ABCDx and its partners in the Eureka Consortium are conducting their first clinical study on 500 patients to optimize the sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers-based stroke diagnosis in pre-hospital settings.
Although strokes cause 95% of all disabilities, the only reliable solution for detecting mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) associated with increased stroke risk is undergoing a CT scan in a hospital. Besides being expensive, the procedure takes time and exposes patients to harmful radiation – a challenge life science startup ABCDx aims to address.
Established as a spinoff of the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, ABCDx is dedicated to developing point-of-care diagnostics with advanced blood-based biomarkers for brain injuries, such as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Two of their proprietary solutions, TBiCheck and the BRAINCheck™ App technology have received CE mark accreditation in the past.
The company’s third portfolio product is the LVOCheck rapid biochemical test to diagnose and treat large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, ischemic strokes in which a large artery of the brain gets obstructed by a thrombus (blood clot). The test comprises a patented multi-biomarker rapid test providing LVO identification, a smartphone app to scan the test and upload the results to the platform and an AI-powered cloud-based platform supporting the decision-making and communication process. From only a drop of blood from a finger prick and based on its biomarkers, the platform allows for detecting stroke patients with LVO while in the ambulance and delivering an accurate positive predictive value within 15 minutes, hence facilitating the proper pre-hospital triage. This speed of reaction and results help in improving the recovery rates of ischemic stroke patients drastically.
In collaboration with the Eureka consortium, including partners from Berlin Charité and FZBM, ABCDx is currently conducting a clinical study for LVOCheck with over 500 patients. This initiative aims to develop a cost-effective point-of-care test to identify patients with LVO rapidly. Its distinguishing factor is its novel approach, leveraging in-ambulance CT scans to immediately confirm LVOCheck test results so patients can be transported directly to the nearest thrombectomy center for treatment, an advancement not typically available in pre-hospital settings. The study outlines a strategic clinical protocol that was recently published in Frontiers in Neurology.
Headquartered in Barcelona (ABCDx Spain), ABCDX Switzerland operates from its offices and laboratories at the Campus Biotech Innovation Park. The startup and its team - which includes Prof. Sanchez and Dr Montaner Villalonga, who are recognized as Key Opinion Leaders in the field of brain biomarkers - have received support from various players in the Swiss startup ecosystem, including the FONGIT Innovation Fund (FIF) and BRIDGE, a joint program of the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF and Innosuisse.
(Press release / RAN/ SR)
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