Radisens Diagnostics

Radisens wins ITLG Biotech Award

jerry — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:48:34 +0000

Santa Clara, California – March 13, 2012 − Radisens Diagnostics received a prestigious industry award last night recognising them as the best in the biotech field from the Silicon Valley-based Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) at its annual awards dinner in California.

The ITLG shortlisted twenty companies for the awards, competing across five categories, from over 160 pre-screened high-tech startup and early stage companies at a series of workshops across Ireland last November. Chaired by former Intel chief executive Craig Barrett and run by John Hartnett, ITLG now has more than 4,000 members worldwide and forms a global network of Irish and Irish diaspora technology industry executives focused on helping Irish technology companies succeed.

Among the speakers and panellists appearing at the event were: Dr Craig Barrett, the former chairman and chief executive of Intel and current chairman of the ITLG; Roger McNamee, founder of Elevation Partners – the private equity firm where Bono is a partner and which has a significant stake in Facebook; John O’Farrell, partner in Andreessen Horowitz, the venture capital firm founded by Netscape web browser pioneer Marc Andreessen, which is one of the most active funds in the Valley, and Carl Schram, the economist and entrepreneur who is a former chief executive of the Kauffman Foundation.

About Radisens Diagnostics
Radisens Diagnostics develops disruptive point-of-care diagnostic platforms and multiplexed test panels, which diagnose and monitor patients for multiple chronic and acute care conditions. This is the only point-of-care platform to integrate immunoassay, biochemistry and cellular haematology onto a single test panel. Using a finger-prick of blood, the analyser returns laboratory-grade results in the doctor’s office within minutes. With offices in Cork, Ireland and Boston, Massachusetts, Radisens Diagnostics is a convergence of medical diagnostics and consumer electronics using disruptive patent pending technology to deliver on the significant market and clinical need for decentralising diagnostics into point of care settings such as doctor’s offices, outpatient and emergency room departments, intensive care units and hospital bedsides.

About ITLG
Established in October 2007, the ITLG is an independent organization comprised of a number of high-level technology leaders in Silicon Valley who are Irish or Irish-American. The Group includes senior executives from some of the Valley’s leading corporations, each of whom are committed to promoting the technology connection between Ireland and Silicon Valley, and helping Ireland address the challenges of embracing new technology opportunities.

Commercial contact:
Jerry O’Brien
Radisens Diagnostics Ltd
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Radisens licenses Tecan’s microfluidic patent portfolio

jerry — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:47:51 +0000

Cork, Ireland – February 23, 2012 − Radisens Diagnostics has announced a licensing deal with Tecan Trading AG., securing rights to Tecan’s industry leading centrifugal microfluidic patent portfolio.

The licensed technology consists of a wide range of fundamental centrifugal microfluidic processes and structures which enable automated fluid processing of small sample volumes including valving, metering and mixing. Also covered are specific applications including affinity-binding based assays and enzymatic assays.

Jerry O’Brien, CEO Radisens Diagnostics said, “Tecan’s significant IP portfolio of granted patents cover novel and pioneering centrifugal microfluidic technologies, enabling Radisens to integrate multiple chronic and acute blood tests at the advanced performance and cost targets required at point-of-care”.

In related news, Dr. Greg Kellogg has joined Radisens Diagnostics as Product Development Director and Boston Office Manager. Greg is an internationally recognised pioneer of centrifugal microfluidics with a proven track record of innovative technology development and has built innovative R&D organizations while at Gamera, Tecan, Network Biosystems and Protiveris. Throughout his career, he has developed novel microfluidic technologies with applications in clinical and molecular diagnostics, genotyping, drug discovery and forensics, developing disposables, instrumentation and reagent products.

Commercial contact:
Jerry O’Brien
Radisens Diagnostics Ltd
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Positions Open: Development Scientists – Clinical Chemistry

jerry — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:20:14 +0000

Radisens is expanding its assay development team with development scientists with a clinical chemistry background, to drive the development of diagnostic applications based on Radisens’ disruptive point-of-care platform technology. The successful candidates will demonstrate a mix of skills, with experience in commercial clinical biochemistry assay development a distinct advantage.

Job Functions

Be a leading part of Radisens’ Assay Development team, defining and implementing the next generation of portable medical diagnostic architectures
Drive the design and development of roadmap clinical chemistry assays
Document results and prepare research summaries, SOP’s and invention disclosures
Follow design, verification, quality standards and best practises necessary for production test and regulatory approval
Work closely with Radisens’ device, application and software teams

Requirements

Ph.D. Degree in relevant discipline (Life Science, Biochemistry, Chemistry or equivalent)
3+ years relevant development experience ideally in a commercial environment
Proven competence in meeting deadlines
Experience of several of the following is highly desirable:
- Clinical chemistry and dry chemistry tests
- Knowledge of enzyme kinetics, end-point determination, specifity/interference
- Understanding of colorimetric, reflectance based assay systems
- Statistical methods as they relate to clinical assays
- Interfacing assay development with instrument design
- ISO requirements and GMP guidelines, CE Marking and FDA regulation
- Medical device design control and manufacturing scale-up processes
- Development of enzyme-based biochemical assays for analytes of clinical relevance
- Microfluidic assays
Proven competence working with:
- Clinical chemistry assay design
- Development of same to commercial levels of performance and stability
Team player with a can-do attitude and an ability to motivate others
Strong passion for in-vitro diagnostic technology development
Strong analytical and problem solving skills with grounding in product development
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Comfortable working in a start-up environment

Candidates should apply online. Strictly no agencies.

Radisens to compete in IBM SmartCamp London and launches BES investment fund

jerry — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:18:26 +0000

Cork, Ireland – November 10th, 2011 − Radisens Diagnostics has been short-listed to compete at IBM SmartCamp London on November 16/17th, an event that challenges the potential of the brightest start-up companies in Europe. Radisens has earned a place at IBM’s SmartCamp in London next week, where five start-up companies – selected from more than 80 original applications – will compete to win an intensive three month mentorship programme with IBM, and the chance to shine on the world stage.

From left: Dr. Ian Hayes, Business Development Director at Radisens Diagnostics with Jerry O’Brien, CEO, Radisens Diagnostics and Anne Sheehan, IBM Sales Director at the recent IBM Start-up Primer event in Dublin which Radisens won.

Jerry O’Brien, CEO Radisens Diagnostics said, “Being one of the five finalists in London, gives Radisens a fantastic platform to demonstrate our unique point-of-care diagnostics proposition to IBM’s healthcare thought leaders and connectivity experts, as we explore areas of mutual cooperation and benefit”.

IBM launched the Global Entrepreneur initiative in early 2010. This initiative is designed to help start-up companies capture emerging business opportunities in fast-growing industries like energy and utilities, healthcare, communications and government, and work with a new generation of entrepreneurs to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues — like healthcare, water, transportation and the environment — that will transform the way people live and work.

“In 2011, we have identified over 35 companies in Ireland that align to IBM’s smarter planet strategy in delivering new and more efficient solutions to todays business and social challenges”, said Noel Crawford, IBM’s Innovation Centre and Developer Relations Manager. “It is great to have such strong Irish companies as Radisens Diagnostics at our events, companies that are providing potential game changing solutions for peoples lives.”

Part of the IBM Global Entrepreneur initiative is IBM SmartCamp. IBM is gathering industry leading mentors from investment firms, serial entrepreneurs, academics, marketing, communications and technology experts in London, to meet with five of Europe’s most promising technology startups from the IBM SmartCamp initiative. A series of nine SmartCamp events are planned around the world to climax in the world finals event in Silicon Valley early in 2012.

Radisens also announced today the launch of their 2011 Business Expansion Scheme to allow private investors participate in the growing success of the company. More information on this unique investment opportunity, which is compatible with the recently announced Employment and Investment Initiative Scheme, may be requested at www.radisens.com/contact or through an email to info @ radisens.com.

Commercial contact:
Jerry O’Brien
Radisens Diagnostics Ltd
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Radisens Diagnostics Announces €1M Contract with European Space Agency

jerry — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:30:13 +0000

Cork, Ireland – Nov 1, 2011 – Radisens Diagnostics has been awarded a €1m contract by the European Space Agency to develop an innovative blood testing device for use by astronauts on board the International Space Station and on various human spaceflight missions.

Congratulating the company, Sean Sherlock, TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, said “Radisens Diagnostics’ success is the most recent example of an Irish company reaping significant benefits from Ireland’s membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) through Enterprise Ireland. It is encouraging to see that Irish SMEs are developing a high profile as providers of innovative solutions for use in the European Space Programme”.

The European Space Agency has contracted Radisens Diagnostics to add a thyroid test to their point-of-care device which is currently in development at their facility in Cork. ESA wants to use the device on board the International Space Station and on various human spaceflight missions where it is essential to get instant, laboratory grade results for myriad health conditions.

Back on Earth, the technology developed for the space programme by Radisens Diagnostics will enable a general physician (GP) to take a finger-prick of blood and test patients for diabetes, heart disease, liver and kidney damage and thyroid conditions in their surgery with instant results. Future developments will enable the diagnosis of heart attacks, early stage cancers such as prostate and ovarian, infectious diseases such as HIV, and viruses. With a over one billion blood tests ordered at point-of-care annually worldwide, this test menu offering is a potential game-changer.

Currently, if a person needs a blood test they have to be referred to a hospital where a qualified phlebotomist takes a vial(s) of blood which has to be sent to a central laboratory for testing. The whole process introduces significant delays, patient anxiety and huge inefficiencies within healthcare systems, for what are routine tests.

Radisens Diagnostics recently announced a strategic partnership with the UK’s NHS, to integrate a kidney test to their point-of-care device, thus decentralising up to 15 million blood tests from UK hospitals annually into the GP surgery, providing for a more comfortable and convenient experience for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, and significant cost savings for the NHS.

Announcing the contract, Jerry O’Brien, CEO Radisens Diagnostics said, “Winning this contract from the European Space Agency is a significant endorsement of our ‘sample-to-answer’ device and the breadth of blood tests it can offer. We are delighted to formalise our strategic partnership with ESA with the support of Enterprise Ireland and look forward to working on the application of our technology to terrestrial and space healthcare diagnostic needs”.

Radisens Diagnostics Ltd is located in the Rubicon Centre, which is a business incubation centre funded by Enterprise Ireland and Cork Institute of Technology, is funded by private investors, Kernel Capital, Enterprise Ireland, France’s Sophia Business Angels and the Cork City Enterprise Board and will shortly be launching it’s 2011 Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (which replaces previous Business Expansion Schemes) to allow Irish private investors to share in the company’s growing success.

About Enterprise Ireland and the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is the intergovernmental organisation that promotes co-operation among European States in space research and technology and their space applications for scientific purposes and for operational space applications systems. Ireland’s membership of ESA permits Irish companies and research teams to bid for ESA contract development work in a range of space programmes.

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish body responsible for co-ordinating Ireland’s industrial and research participation in the programmes of ESA. Its role is to assist Irish companies to successfully bid for ESA contracts. Enterprise Ireland provides a source of expertise for Irish companies in developing and executing space strategies, Irish industrial participation is primarily in the engineering, aerospace, software, electronics, optoelectronics and telecommunications sectors.

The level of spin off export sales (including direct ESA contracts) from Irish investment in ESA is estimated at €35m in 2010 and projected to grow substantially as the number of Irish companies securing ESA contract continues to expand, and as existing Irish ESA contractors progress from intensive R&D phase to commercial exploitation phase.

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

NHS contracts Radisens Diagnostics to develop kidney test

jerry — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:22:21 +0000

Cork, Ireland – Sept 20, 2011 – The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) East of England has contracted Radisens Diagnostics Ltd, a medical diagnostics start-up developing a highly integrated point-of-care blood analyser platform, to integrate a creatinine (kidney) test onto it’s existing chronic care assay panel for long-term disease management.

Supported by NHS East of England, the European Regional Development Fund and the Technology Strategy Board, the East of England Small Business Research Initiative is looking to industry to commercialise innovation that can be shown to make a difference to the care of people with long-term conditions. Administered by Health Enterprise East (HEE), the NHS innovation partner organisation for the East of England, this builds upon the outcomes from the NHS East’s Working Group to review the productivity opportunities and health economic benefits offered by utilising appropriate diagnostic tests in community settings.

Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NHS East of England said: “It is estimated that around one in three people are living with a long-term condition which not only creates real personal challenges, but also increases the cost of healthcare. New technologies will mean that in the future, more people will be able to receive treatment in their own homes, with their condition monitored and managed without having to visit or stay in a hospital. This not only makes for an improved patient experience but also saves healthcare resources and costs which currently amount to £7 out of every £10 being spent on long-term conditions.”

Radisens Diagnostics has the only point-of-care platform to integrate immunoassay, biochemistry and haematology tests onto a single mini-disc panel, to diagnose and monitor patients for multiple chronic and acute care conditions. This project targets the integration of a creatinine (kidney) test on to Radisens’ lon-term chronic care panel. Using a finger-prick of blood applied to the panel, the Radisens diagnostic device returns results within minutes. This chronic care panel will enable the GP to actively monitor long-term chronic disease patients for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, resulting in better patient care and significant productivity gains and efficiences in the healthcare system.

Jerry O’Brien, Radisens Diagnostics’ CEO said: “We are delighted to be working with the NHS in the East of England to deliver on their visionary requirements for testing of long-term chronic care conditions. Decentralising the long-term disease management to point of care, leads to significantly improved patient care, and productivity gains and efficiencies within the healthcare system”

About Health Enterprise East
Health Enterprise East Limited (HEE) is the NHS partner organisation for Innovation. HEE is committed to improving healthcare through supporting the development of innovative new products and services which meet the needs of the NHS. HEE provides a broad range of services to NHS organisations, providing expert advice, funding and support to NHS innovators to translate their ideas into practice. Operating within the NHS, HEE also provides consultancy services to technology based companies looking to access the UK market. HEE works with clinical key opinion leaders and senior NHS managerial, commissioning and procurement staff on a daily basis. Our NHS market assessments provide vital information for companies to ensure that their products are well targeted to the technical and business needs of the NHS, speeding up adoption of new technology by the NHS. Health Enterprise East is based at Papworth Hospital Cambridge, one of the leading UK Cardio/Respiratory Research and Treatment Centres.

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Radisens appoints Neil Butler as Non-Executive Director

jerry — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:16:39 +0000

Cork, Ireland – Jul 22, 2011 – Radisens Diagnostics has announced the appointment of Neil Butler to the Board as Non-Executive Director. Neil has extensive knowledge of the medical diagnostics sector, acquired over many years in the industry. He was previously the founding CEO of both Oxford Biosensors and later Vivacta, developing the latter company from a technology into a successful point of care diagnostics company, where he completed successive financing rounds raising in excess of $25m and recruited a world class board comprising ex Chairman and Presidents of diagnostic majors that included Roche, J&J and Bayer.

Jerry O’Brien, Radisens’ Chief Executive, commented: “We are delighted to appoint someone of Neil’s calibre to the Board. He brings a wealth of commercial and operational expertise and his experience of building small, innovative businesses into multimillion pound companies is invaluable”.

Neil Butler added “What attracted me to Radisens is the compelling commercial vision and the breadth of the platform in being able to handle biochemistry, immunochemistry and hematology assays, all multiplexed on to a single panel. I look forward to working with such an innovative company that has the potential to transform the point of care sector.”

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Kernel leads €1.1m investment in Radisens Diagnostics

jerry — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:51:44 +0000

Cork, Ireland – May 27, 2011 – Kernel Capital has led a €1.1m investment in Radisens Diagnostics Ltd, a medical diagnostics start-up. The investment comprises of a €500k investment by the Bank of Ireland MedTech Accelerator Fund with the remainder of the funds provided by Enterprise Ireland, and private angel investors sourced by the company.

Commercially available, rapid, multiplexed screening tools are urgently needed to enable early detection of a multitude of diseases for patients and to manage already diagnosed conditions. Radisens is developing a single instrument to test for multiple diseases that requires only a single drop of blood and can be performed and interpreted by any general physician within minutes. No such solution currently exists; various companies have developed instruments which only part-test separately for some blood ailments and diseases. The Radisens solution will enable test results to be shared instantaneously with patients for chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease), infectious diseases, thyroid function, early cancers, cardiac ailments and virus diagnosis.

Radisens’ technology has the potential to decentralize clinical blood testing into point-of-care settings such as GP clinics, outpatients departments, emergency rooms and small to medium sized hospital labs. Blood testing at point-of-care can save lives, deliver significant productivity gains and work practice efficiencies, reducing patient waiting lists and pressures on hospital beds required, and ensuring optimal use of professional time.

Commenting on the announcement, Niall Olden, Managing Partner, Kernel Capital said: “Radisens is another example of an excellent life science start-up. Led by Jerry O’Brien, the company has strong intellectual property with many worldwide patents pending. The company has established significant commercial relationships and anticipates first commercial revenues within 12 months.”

Jerry O’Brien, CEO, Radisens Diagnostics added: “Attracting such a high calibre investor at this early stage in Radisens’ development significantly endorses our unique value proposition, in what is an $8 billion market segment. Radisens’ innovative convergence of medical diagnostics and consumer electronics fields will transform this sector, uniquely addressing clear unmet clinical and commercial needs.”

Donal Duffy, Head of Enterprise Ireland Relations, Bank of Ireland said: “We are delighted to add Radisens Diagnostics to the long list of cutting edge companies supported by Bank of Ireland funds. We are pleased to support the Company along with Kernel Capital who can also bring its expertise in medical diagnostics and semiconductors together in this investment in Radisens which is a fusion of both technologies.”

Welcoming the announcement Greg Treston, Head of High Potential Start Ups at Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to have supported this highly innovative ambitious company. Our priority is to grow a strong base of innovative indigenous companies with the products and services and business development strategies capable of winning new export markets and growing jobs in Ireland. We look forward to working closely with Radisens Diagnostics in developing this exciting project.”

About Kernel Capital
Kernel Capital and its associate Life Science investment firm Seroba Kernel have in excess of €196m under management in six separate Venture Capital funds, investing in ICT, Life Science and general seed and early stage investments. These funds are supported by Enterprise Ireland, Bank of Ireland, University of Limerick Foundation, NUI, Galway and a range of other financial institutions. They have invested in Kernel Capital’s portfolio of 51 companies which collectively employ in excess of 800 people and have been granted over 150 scientific patents. Kernel Capital and Seroba Kernel are committed to dynamic, innovative, knowledge based companies and led in excess of €96m in syndicated investment in 2010. Kernel Capital believes that it is an exceptional time for investment.

Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity Fund
The Bank of Ireland Seed and Early Stage Equity Fund is a €32m Fund that invests in start-up and early stage companies, with a focus on export orientated high potential start-up companies that operate in the technology (including green technology), food and financial services sectors, in addition to supporting patent and patent pending projects within Irish universities. It is managed on behalf of Bank of Ireland and the other partners by Kernel Capital. This fund comprises of an investment by Bank of Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, University of Limerick Foundation and NUI Galway. The €10m Bank of Ireland MedTech Accelerator Fund is part of this Fund.

About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish industry, is actively involved in supporting early stage high potential start-ups. With over 80 new direct equity investments annually in these businesses, and through its investment in 41 seed and venture capital funds, Enterprise Ireland is now the largest early stage VC investor in Europe in terms of the number of investments made. In addition, through its network of 31 international offices, Enterprise Ireland actively supports Irish companies to grow their export markets and create valuable jobs in Ireland.

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Radisens to speak at NHS Conference

jerry — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:58:01 +0000

Cork, Ireland – Mar 7, 2011 – Radisens Diagnostics has been shortlisted as one of four innovative diagnostic companies to speak at the upcoming NHS Opening Doors Conference. With it’s focus on ‘Diagnostics in the Community’, the conference concentrates on Point of Care (PoC) solutions which deliver direct quality, innovation, productivity and prevention improvements.

Radisens will outline the work it’s currently doing with the NHS to deliver on their PoC requirements for the annual review of chronic care patients. Radisens unique approach allows GP’s and primary care nurses to monitor multiple diseases and blood ailments from a drop of patients blood within 15 minutes.

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909

Radisens wins regional Seedcorn Competition and launches BES Funding round

jerry — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:08:25 +0000

Cork, Ireland – Nov 4, 2010 – Radisens Diagnostics today won the Munster Regional Finals of the All-Island Seedcorn Business Competition and launched it’s BES Funding round for private investors. The business will present at the all Ireland finals in Dublin on 26th November, competing against 3 other regional winners for the top prize of €100,000.

Now in its eighth year, the prize fund for this year’s Seedcorn competition run by IntertradeIreland is €280,000. Through Seedcorn, companies on the island of Ireland have already leveraged approximately €125 million worth of additional equity investment.

Commenting on the win, Jerry O’Brien, CEO said “We are delighted to have been selected to represent Munster in the upcoming Seedcorn Competition Finals. To be judged by such a distinguished panel of business experts greatly validates our business proposition as we commercially deploy our innovative diagnostic platforms and push forward to take Radisens to the next level. Private investors can avail of a unique investment opportunity by requesting a BES Information Memorandum on our website”

About Radisens Diagnostics
Radisens Diagnostics develops disruptive point-of-care diagnostic platforms and multiplexed test panels, which diagnose and monitor patients for multiple chronic and acute care conditions. This is the only point-of-care platform to integrate immunoassay, biochemistry and cellular haematology onto a single test panel. Using a finger-prick of blood, the analyser returns laboratory-grade results in the doctor’s office within minutes. Radisens Diagnostics is a convergence of medical diagnostics and consumer electronics using disruptive patent pending technology to deliver on the significant market and clinical need for decentralising diagnostics into point of care settings such as doctor’s offices, outpatient and emergency room departments, intensive care units and hospital bedsides.

Commercial Contact:
E: info @ radisens.com
T: +353 21 4868190 / Fax: +353 21 4928909