Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death/morbidity across the globe, accounting for 31% of all deaths in 2015. Ischemic events are the most common manifestation of CVD. Early detection of ischemia is essential to prevent the progression of heart damage and the irreversible tissue damage that can lead to heart failure. However, there are no available biomarkers for the early detection of cardiac ischemia. In fact, almost 90% of the available in vitro diagnostic (IVD) methods are based on the quantification of markers of necrosis, an advanced stage of organ damage, and are not effective for the early detection of ischemic damage.
AGLYC is an IVD device for the quantification of Apo J-Glyc blood levels as an early biomarker of ischemia (<30 mins from event onset) in the absence of the irreversible necrosis of the tissue. AGLYC demonstrates a 97% sensitivity in detecting the presence of cardiac ischemia. Our main competitive advantages are high sensitivity, early detection, and cost effectiveness. The Global IVD market accounted for $61,103 m in 2016 and is estimated to reach at $84,647 m by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2017 to 2023. We have estimated a lab-based target market of >70M patients (USA+5EU) and Point of Care (POC) target market of >36M patients (USA+5EU).
Our main business model will be a sublicense model based on the development of a laboratory-based test that we will develop and then sublicense to either a medical device company (MedTech) in the cardiac diagnostic testing market or to a pharmaceutical company with drugs for CVD in its portfolio for the co-development of the POC device for the rapid quantification of Apo J-Glyc for its commercialization. With this model and the successful completion of the SMEI Phase 1 and 2 we estimate an EBITDA of around €19m, creating 10 new jobs by 2024.
The Feasibility Study for this project has taken 3 months and has focussed on an in-depth market study, technical testing and the development of final business plan to take us to market.