A rapid diagnostic test from Ocean Dx SAS delivered gold standard performance in a clinical evaluation that points to a potential shift in how sepsis is identified and treated. The assay, which detects more than 1,000 bacterial species directly from whole blood, returned 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared with reference blood cultures, with results reported in five hours. Further, the test tripled the number of infections identified.
When every hour’s delay in treatment increases the risk of death 8%, dialing down time to diagnosis takes on acute urgency for clinicians and regulators. When the disease being treated kills 20% of the global population and 33% of hospitalized patients in the U.S., the market opportunity attracts investors. And when the technology makes breakthroughs possible that cut the time to targeted treatment from days to hours or even minutes, the number of products in development explodes, as the keen competition in sepsis diagnostics covered by BioWorld in 2024 demonstrates.
Algodx AB received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its sepsis detection software Navoy CDS. The technology, which analyzes patient data, has the potential to improve patient outcomes as it enables clinicians to detect and treat sepsis earlier.
Cytovale Inc. has posted a feverish run of wins lately. The company gained U.S. FDA clearance for its Intellisep rapid test for sepsis in January 2023, raised $84 million in a series C in November and just published results showing the test has negative predictive value of 97.5%.
Prenosis Inc. gained U.S. FDA de novo marketing authorization for an artificial intelligence-powered rapid diagnostic tool for sepsis, one of the most challenging and deadly conditions in hospitals and reported a distribution agreement with Roche Holding AG. Another pairing also made progress in developing a sepsis in vitro diagnostic this week, as Bosch Healthcare Solutions GmbH and Randox Laboratories Inc. joined forces and committed €150 million (US$159.63 million) to the effort.
Inflammatix Inc. received U.S. FDA breakthrough device designation for its Triverity acute infection and sepsis test system, which produces three readouts that could help emergency physicians quickly determine the proper course of treatment.
The time to diagnosis of sepsis infection to a patient in the hospital can be critical, with underdiagnosis resulting in rapid deterioration, risk of organ damage and need for readmission, and overdiagnosis leading to the avoidable and sometimes serious health consequences of overtreating patients with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Previa Medical SA will begin clinical trials later this year of its artificial intelligence software designed for early detection of sepsis after it raised €2.1 million (US $2.2 million) in seed funds.
Cytovale Inc. received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its Intellisep sepsis test, which can aid in the diagnosis of the often fatal condition within 10 minutes. Cytovale is one of several companies and collaborations that aim to sharply reduce the time to diagnosis and the mortality rate for sepsis by providing quicker, more informative test results and standardizing protocols.
Cytovale Inc., a San Francisco-based medical technology company, has snagged an additional $3.83 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to conduct a pilot study of its Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic System for patients with potential respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. The patented technology, which can diagnose sepsis in less than 10 minutes, could speed up triaging and treatment of critically ill patients suspected of having the life-threatening condition.
