Bruno Almeida, PhD, CEO | IPLEXMED; Neide Vieira, PhD; Joana Guerreiro, PhD; Jérôme Borme, PhD,
Competition Sponsor: EIT Health of the European Union
Awardee Year: 2023
In recent years, the growing incidence of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) has significantly impacted global morbidity and mortality trends, positioning them as the third leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, over a billion individuals globally face CRDs, which make them highly susceptible to respiratory infections. These infections, often resistant to antimicrobials, lead to irreversible lung damage and premature death. A critical gap exists in the access of swift, user-friendly, and precise first-line molecular diagnostic tools capable of identifying these infections and their Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) profiles at the point-of-care (emergency room) and for at-home monitoring. IPLEXMED is bridging this gap with a pioneering solution that facilitates the dependable identification of multiple infectious agents along with their drug resistance patterns in a single, 20-minute run, using a non-invasive sample, both at point-of-care and home settings. This innovation empowers personalized treatment strategies and real-time disease surveillance, mitigating morbidity and mortality associated with CRDs. By averting unnecessary hospitalizations and antibiotic prescriptions, we project a substantial 40% reduction in healthcare provider costs. Moreover, our product is poised to make a significant dent in the 112 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to CRDs annually. Given the heightened risk of developing CRDs with aging – a factor amplified by the increasing global elderly population – our solution stands as a pillar for promoting healthier aging and enhancing disease management among the elderly.”