The world’s first alzheimer’s alert
betaSENSE GmbH, the revolution in early neurodegenerative diagnostics.
betaSENSE GmbH
From one drop of body fluid to an antibody detector and infrared reading to a personal risk assessment: thanks to innovative platform technology for diagnosing proteins, betaSENSE is able to detect various neurodegenerative diseases in the earliest stages of development. Our technology, in other words, helps people gain valuable time during the early stages of a disease so that people can continue to live in good health and dignity right into old age.
The Team
betaSENSE was developed by a group of research students at Ruhr University Bochum who studied under Professor Klaus Gerwert.
The brainwave
Is it possible to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS several years before the first symptoms appear? Thanks to the innovative protein test performed by betaSENSE, the answer is yes! We revolutionize protein diagnostics. We perform top-level research in the field of protein sciences with the aim of identifying neurodegenerative diseases in the earliest stages of development and thus help prevent them from running their usual course. Long before the first symptoms of a neurodegenerative disease manifest themselves, betaSENSE technology identifies changes to the relevant proteins in the human body. Thanks to this technology, we can pinpoint a person’s individual level of risk for the disease based on an analysis of their body fluids. The aim is to give doctors and patients a valuable head start in beginning treatment – and will also hopefully pave the way for new medicines to be developed. So that people can retain their autonomy as they grow older.
The USP
The immuno-infrared sensor (iRS) is able to measure abnormal folding patterns in biomarkers in body fluids. What’s so innovative about this patented technology is that it doesn’t focus on the concentration of a particular protein, but on its structure. Modern biomarker tests evaluate changes in the concentration of a biomarker to diagnose a disease. But the new iRS platform technology means we can use structural changes to stratify neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS in the earliest stages of development – allowing the patient to begin therapy long before irreversible brain damage has occurred. In modern primary health care, between 50% and 70% of all diagnoses for neurodegenerative diseases are incorrect, which is why we urgently need biomarkers to stratify these diseases. At present, no other technology can stratify neurodegenerative diseases at such an early stage, namely before the patients presents with any of the symptoms.
The challenges
Our efforts to find a first investor to provide financial support for our idea proved very tedious. We’re glad and very grateful to have finally found such an investor in PODESTA GmbH, a company in the Hector Group.
In addition to the standard challenges of developing a product and establishing a company, we faced the additional challenges of finding suitable laboratory facilities, getting the legal and economic advice we needed, and dealing with quality management.
What we learned
Quality management is extremely important.
Challenges we mastered
The transition from being a group of research scientists at a university to working in business structures.
What we achieved
Our prototype has received CE certification. In September 2023, Professor Gerwert won the NRW 2023 Innovation Award for the development of the immuno-infrared sensor.
The status quo
Now that our prototype has received CE certification (i.e., has met the necessary EU standards and legal requirements), we’re currently working to further develop and optimize the technology used in the product. At the same time, we’ve submitted it to the legal procedure for approval as a medtech product. There are lots of milestones we still need to pass on this journey, e.g., GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) accreditation, GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practice) accreditation, ISO 15189 certification, ISO 13485 certification, and more. We’ll launch the product in stages, supported by in-house service readings where the technology will be marketed for research use only (RUO) until it can one day be sold as an approved medical product to medical laboratories.
Good reasons for cooperating with a university for young founders
The betaSENSE GmbH start-up builds on a strong basis of research and expertise that was developed at Ruhr University Bochum. The spin-off at RUB creates a framework in which this revolutionary technology can be transformed into marketable products and a new era of diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases in the earliest stages of their development. Thanks to a close collaboration between academic research and business, betaSENSE lays a valuable foundation for pharmaceutical research, clinical studies and the validation of study-related diagnostics, while the new company headquarters – located close by the Ruhr University Bochum campus – provide the perfect conditions for cooperating closely with academic research.
Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs
It might sound corny – but never give up, and keep believing in your idea. Because that’s the only way to convince other people! Also, use existing networks for founders to seek advice and support.
