Cape Town-based biotech startup BioCODE is working toward a future where the cure lies in prevention. They develop point-of-care smart sensing solutions that detect novel circulating inflammatory molecules in the blood. These molecules are present during the very early stages of disease. Now BioCode is currently developing a cost-effective test for cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The innovative test aims to identify early-stage cancer and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the rapid test will determine an individual’s risk for the development of the above-mentioned diseases. The innovative biotech startup aims to launch a commercial prototype at the end of 2021.
More than 70% of deaths worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and neuro-degenerative diseases. It’s a modern pandemic with a common underlying factor – inflammation. Chronic systemic inflammation is not only linked to the progression of disease but also to the onset. It can wage a subtle war on the body long before before the manifestation of disease.
Medical professionals using BioCode’s sensing technology will be able to identify disease risk, monitor patients and determine compliance to treatment regimes. Este Burger Research and Design Engineer for BioCODE explains that the tests are currently in the pre-prototype phase and adds that the rapid tests will detect novel inflammatory markers in a drop of blood for the early identification of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
“These tests will be affordable, accessible, and as easy to use as a glucose sensor or a pregnancy test. They will be used by healthcare professionals to screen and identify patients who are possible risk cases and monitor patients’ response to treatment.”
BioCODE
Launched in 2020, BioCODE forms part of several startups that launched during lockdown via Stellenbosch University’s LaunchLab’s Countdown programme. As a biotech startup, BioCODE has created a two-in-one nanosensor that identifies disease risk in patients at an early stage, for example; the technology adopted at BioCODE can detect inflammatory biomarker levels from a drop of blood.
Founded and created by Professor Resia Pretorius is the head of SU’s Physiological Sciences Department in the Faculty of Science, the unique technology can be used by a medical practitioner and nurses in mobile clinics. In addition, the innovative technology created by BioCODE has been accoladed as a finalist in the Science startup category at the 2020 Falling Walls Breakthrough of the year awards.
The Countdown programme is an eight-week business building programme that focuses on testing and analysing the merits of an early-stage business concept. The programme has placed a strong focus on the following sectors; climate, agriculture, and health and aims to use private-sector entrepreneurism to solve public sector challenges present in Africa.
Burger comments on the immense impact that the programme has had on the startup’s business model and the role that the incubator’s mentorship has played. “We’re nearing the end of SU LaunchLab’s Countdown programme and cannot emphasise enough how it has rewired our brains towards business thinking,” says Burger.
A global health challenge
The World Health Organisation has reported that at least 4 500 cancer and 8 0000 cardiovascular disease fatalities take place each day. Within developing countries, the lack of access to effective and affordable health care further exacerbates these numbers and BioCODE aims to provide an effective and affordable solution to this with the rapid tests currently being developed.
