ArcDia Ltd, the manufacturer of world's only multianalyte point-of-care diagnostic system for respiratory tract infections, completed today EUR 2.7 million funding round to expand its mariPOC® diagnostics system. The round was led by Lifeline Ventures with the existing investors Biothom, Veraventure and private investors participating.
mariPOC® diagnoses nine common viruses and bacteria that are clinically important in respiratory tract infections - such as influenza A/B, RS-virus and parainfluenza 1/2/3 viruses - in a single swab test at point-of-care. The test enables targeted treatment decisions, saves staff time, provides reliable results rapidly and is economically feasible for broad diagnostics use. mariPOC® is based on the proprietary ArcDia™ TPX detection technology (nature biotech 2000:18). mariPOC® was launched to the European market in late 2010, and the product has been in routine clinical use in major hospitals for more than a year. The first distribution agreement was signed in April with Laboratories Leti S.L.U., the Spanish market leader in diagnostic testing of pneumo-respiratory diseases.
"Simply, instead of performing multiple tests that take time to administer and diagnose, and may be difficult to read, mariPOC® provides automated analysis for nine pathogens in one sample in 20 minutes - and with a clear, readable answer. No other diagnostics test platform has been able to provide this functionality and cost-effectiveness to enable respiratory tract infections testing at point-of-care", says Dr Aleksi Soini, CEO at ArcDia Ltd.
"Before mariPOC®, point-of-care multianalyte diagnostic platforms have been too complicated, expensive, difficult-to-use and inaccurate for respiratory tract infections.mariPOC® is taking into account clinical, economic and scientific mattersto enable multianalyte diagnostics for this world's most prevalent disease cluster", comments Timo Ahopelto, Founding Partner at Lifeline Ventures.