Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HYscreen (A fast, cost-effective breath analysis technology for Helicobacter pYlori screening at both large and small scale.)
Reporting period: 2015-05-01 to 2015-10-31
Helicobacter (H.) pylori infection has a high prevalence worldwide and close links to gastric cancers (Forman, 2000), gastric lymphoma (Kim et al., 2011), duodenal and gastric ulceration (Hojsak, 2016). Treatment of the infection is of increasing importance creating the need for a widely available H. pylori diagnostics product. Current methods of detection have many limitations from high cost and invasive procedure.
Bedfont Scientific’s solution is via measuring compounds on the breath which can perform the initial diagnosis and confirm if the bacteria has been eradicated. Bedfont is an established business with several breath analysis product ranges and have a wealth of expertise in this specialist market area.
The phase 1 feasibility study has been completed which looked at the development of the prototype and establishing the route to market through research and development and market research. In phase 2 will see the completion of the development of the prototype to final product and preparation for the launch to market.
The wider societal impact of the new monitor which detects H. pylori, potentially lowering the cases of gastric conditions related to H. pylori infection including gastric cancers. In a study by Gibert and Calvet (2009) they found that 92% of the patient cohort with gastric ulcers test positive for the H. pylori bacteria. Meaning there is potentially a lot of lives improved with the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of H. pylori.