Nisus Biomed, the startup that monitors the health of the stomach - Wired.it

Into You was rewarded by PNICube, and is able to provide real-time results of endoscopic examinations

She was appointed Into startup of the year and tip on the biomedical sector. It’s called Nisus Biomed The Turin-based company that, through its EndoFaster 21-42 , a system that can analyze in real time the gastric juice taken during endoscopic examinations, received in Rovereto, the award given by PNICube, the Italian association that brings together university incubators. A competition designed to give visibility to innovative companies in the early years of life have achieved the best results and quality. At the same time, the start-up has also won the award Bright Future award ideas , sponsored by UK Trade & Investment, the government agency for the economic development of the British Consulate .

Paul Muller , founder of Biomed Nisus, tells us how the project came about and what are the potential of the system EndoFaster.

How works EndoFaster 21-42?

“It is a device that connects the endoscope operating an analysis of gastric juice that is normally aspirated during the ‘endoscopic examination. The innovative part is that everything happens in real time: enough, in fact, a small amount of liquid to have a diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and to identify potential risk factors for stomach cancer and colon cancer. Test results are then transmitted endoscopist who can compare them with the optical observation of the mucosa performed with the endoscope. “

What benefits involves the use of the device?

” In 80 % of cases of cancer risk factors are not directly visible through the endoscope and further analysis are necessary, usually biopsies and histological examinations. latter, however, are very invasive and can present a danger for those suffering from certain diseases, such as heart disease or cirrhosis. analysis of gastric juice, however, allows the physician to immediately identify patients most at risk, focusing on them the following medical tests for further analysis. “

What are the strengths?

“The use of EndoFaster reduces the invoking biopsies, and at histology in 85% of patients which mean less invasive for the patient and cost savings for the hospital. Moreover, the system provides an improvement in the quality and accuracy of diagnosis and a streamlining of the waiting lists. “

Com ‘ the idea was born?

“After ten years’ experience in the field of technology transfer in the university, I decided to launch my start-up. In 2009 I acquired the rights of a prototype developed by a gastroenterologist Italian, already tested and patented. After a feasibility study, I set to work to obtain the CE marking and quality certification ISO. Afterwards, thanks to the intervention of the angel Michele Guala, industrial Alexandria, we started experimenting with the Humanitas Clinical Institute of Rozzano and the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, which was followed by contributions to international congresses. The strength of the device is attested mainly by scientific publications and the testimony of the doctors. “

What are your next goals?

“We have begun marketing. After a first stage towards Italy, we started to bring the device abroad, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Saudi and Israel. We are also working to enter the Indian market and, in general, wherever the CE marking is valid, for example in South America and North Africa, then move on to the markets more “complicated” as America, Japan and China, other certifications are required. Moreover, we want to engage in further partnerships with actors in the biomedical sector and develop new applications. “

How is the distribution?

Into “We try to create a network-based sales of leading distributors who work exclusively and who are trained by our team in order to better understand the potential of the machine. Distributors, then, propose the device to physicians who can choose different types of contract. The hard part is convincing in Italy of the hospital to invest in new technologies, in a time of severe spending review of the health sector and bureaucratic slowness, in which to get a cost analysis may take several months. Abroad, however, the decisions and arrangements for payment are made more quickly. “

How much investment?

” So far we have used a million and a half Euros, but we are planning to take a leap of quality through investment funds. “

What are the problems that one startuppers found in Italy today?

“What is lacking in our country is an incisive institutional support. To develop our project we have received regional subsidies, but the bulk of the investment came from private lenders. I hope that the attention posed by the Monti government on innovative new businesses can find below, in the direction of an extension of the method of financing state and the speeding up of time. A start-up, in fact, to be able to take off needs help immediately and not after two or three years after the birth “.