Dec 23 2015
BreathDX has reached a worldwide licence agreement with Dublin City University for access to its innovative AmBeR® breath ammonia measurement technology.
The specific technology is the brainchild of Professor Tony Killard, developed during his time at the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI) at DCU. Killard is now Chief Technology Officer at BreathDX, the company that is progressing and exploiting the technology internationally to address the monitoring and management of a range of disease conditions.
In the current medical industry, breath ammonia monitoring is rare due to the cost and complexity associated with the detection instruments. The intuitive device being developed by BreathDX uses disposable printed sensors based on nanotechnology, and can be miniaturised further into a portable, handheld device similar to the common alcohol breathalyser.
Professor Killard, CTO, BreathDX said,
“Initial clinical evaluations/trials have shown that ammonia measurements have the same level of accuracy as standard blood-based tests to detect liver and kidney function, a critical indicator of a range of disease conditions. AmBeR® offers a quick and immediate alternative to taking blood samples, as it allows patients and their families to perform painless breath measurements instead.”
“We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious university, and one that is renowned for its specialist research centres such as the BDI, with its focus on Point-of-Care Diagnostics. The licence agreement is another welcome endorsement that this technology is the first of its kind to address the challenge of measuring ammonia in people’s breath. The device has a very promising future and a definite place in both the medical and home environment for the measurement of specific chronic diseases.”
BreathDX has already successfully secured in excess of €1M from UK funding agencies to develop and evaluate the technology to target a number of disease conditions that can be assisted by ammonia in the breath. The company is also actively seeking its first round of investment to help expand the business and help realise its global potential.
The latest agreement with DCU is in line with the university’s decade long development of breath ammonia measurement technology, which has been funded by Enterprise Ireland and is based on patented and patent-pending sensor technology.
Richard Stokes, DCU Director of Innovation said,
“DCU has earned its strong reputation for enterprise through identifying innovations like AmBeR® and recognising their commercial potential. We also have a research centre that focuses specifically on the development of the next generation of point-of-care biomedical diagnostic devices so the agreement with BreathDX fits perfectly with our ethos. As shareholders in the company, we look forward to working with the management to bring this innovative technology into clinical use and to making a real difference to patient care.”