TL;DR:
- Scailyte, a Swiss AI company specializing in biomarker discovery, sells endometriosis diagnostic assets to Hera Biotech.
- Scailyte’s AI platform uncovers complex disease patterns in single-cell data.
- The agreement extends Scailyte’s Series A funding to $8 million.
- The IP acquisition consolidates the endometriosis diagnostic market.
- Both companies have discovered significant transcriptomic changes in endometriosis patients.
- Hera Biotech aims to revolutionize endometriosis diagnosis with non-surgical methods.
- The Scailyte platform will launch its diagnostic product in the US fertility market in late 2024.
- Dr. Cinzia Donato and Professor Michael Mueller join Hera Biotech’s team.
Main AI News:
Scailyte, the Swiss AI powerhouse known for its groundbreaking work in single-cell and AI-guided biomarker discovery, has entered into a strategic agreement that is set to reshape the landscape of endometriosis diagnostics. In a bold move, Scailyte has sold its endometriosis diagnostic testing assets and associated intellectual property to US-based Hera Biotech.
Swiss innovation hub, Basel-based Scailyte, a spinout from ETH Zurich, boasts an AI platform that unravels complex disease patterns hidden within single-cell data. By leveraging this cutting-edge technology, Scailyte has unlocked the secrets concealed within the “single-cell” universe, providing invaluable insights that drive the discovery of clinically significant biomarker signatures.
As an endorsement of Scailyte’s potential, the company recently extended its Series A funding round, successfully raising a remarkable total of $8 million. While the precise financial details of this transformative agreement remain undisclosed, it undoubtedly signals a significant step forward for the future of endometriosis diagnostics.
This strategic acquisition of intellectual property marks a pivotal moment in the realm of tissue-based diagnostic programs for endometriosis. Currently, only two entities hold the reins of this crucial field.
Collaborating closely with their academic partners, both companies have undertaken extensive research efforts, unveiling substantial transcriptomic alterations in endometrium samples extracted from patients afflicted with endometriosis. In a groundbreaking endeavor, Scailyte harnessed its deep sequencing discovery platform to scrutinize an astonishing six billion transcriptomic data points sourced from 169 patients. The outcome? The development of complementary biomarkers and assays that promise an accurate and noninvasive means of diagnosing endometriosis.
Hera Biotech, born from a commitment to harness biotechnological advancements to address unmet needs in women’s health, particularly in the realm of reproductive medicine, is the driving force behind this partnership. Hera’s initial mission revolves around bringing to market a novel, non-surgical method for the definitive early diagnosis and staging of endometriosis. With the Scailyte platform as its foundation, Hera aims to unveil its debut diagnostic product in the US fertility market by late 2024. Subsequently, a second product based on single-cell analysis, geared towards the definitive diagnosis and staging of endometriosis in the Ob/Gyn market, will follow suit.
Scailyte’s CEO, Peter Nestorov, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Hera, emphasizing the wealth of insights garnered from their extensive research efforts. Nestorov stated, “Through our collaboration with Professor Michael Mueller from the University of Bern, we have generated the largest single-cell RNA-seq datasets from peripheral blood and endometrial tissue. The insights we gained clearly indicate that the tissue-based approach is the only way to capture the complexity and heterogeneity of endometriosis. Therefore, tissue-based molecular assays will be the only viable alternative to laparoscopy for a definitive diagnosis and patient stratification.”
Somer Baburek, CEO of Hera Biotech, also shared his excitement regarding the partnership, highlighting the invaluable additions to Hera’s team. “We are delighted that this partnership also affords Hera the opportunity to add Dr. Cinzia Donato to our executive team and Professor Michael Mueller to our scientific advisory board. Dr. Donato and Professor Mueller were the driving forces behind Scailyte’s endometriosis diagnostic program and brought a breadth of scientific and commercial skills to complement Hera’s in-house diagnostic programs.” This partnership indeed ushers in a new era for endometriosis diagnostics, merging cutting-edge technology with a commitment to women’s health.
Conclusion:
The acquisition of Scailyte’s assets by Hera Biotech represents a significant advancement in the field of endometriosis diagnostics. With access to cutting-edge technology and a commitment to women’s health, Hera Biotech is poised to revolutionize this market, offering noninvasive and accurate diagnostic solutions, potentially transforming the way endometriosis is diagnosed and treated. This strategic move underscores the growing importance of AI-driven healthcare solutions and signals promising developments in the women’s health sector.
