Daily Newsletter

10 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

10 August 2023

Sunbird Bio and Glympse Bio merge for diagnostic platforms development

The APEX and Glympse platforms can identify the properties and activity of circulating proteins.

RanjithKumar Dharma August 10 2023

Sunbird Bio has merged with Glympse Bio to fast-track the development of protein-based diagnostic technologies.

Set to operate as Sunbird Bio, Inc., the newly merged entity will have its US headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its operational headquarters in Singapore.

With a pipeline of diagnostic tests, the combined company will focus on clinical-stage platform development with demonstrated potential for improving patient care in Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.

The diagnostic tests are based on the APEX and Glympse technology platforms.

These platforms can identify the properties and activity of circulating proteins to provide insights to researchers and clinicians, which current tests cannot provide.

APEX is a proprietary diagnostic system that detects aggregated amyloid-β in circulation using a blood sample.

It has shown its capability to accurately identify the aggregation of this peptide, a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

The Glympse diagnostic platform is said to be the first to demonstrate its ability to measure and analyse protease activity within the bloodstream.

This capability enables prompt and precise detection, enhancing well-informed strategies for treatment planning and monitoring.

In partnership with biopharma companies and researchers, Sunbird Bio plans to introduce its complete range of diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's and other neurological conditions.

Additionally, they are engaged in advancing early-stage cancer diagnostics using the Glympse platform.

Sunbird Bio executive chair and CEO John McDonough said: “The APEX and Glympse platforms have the potential to dramatically improve standards of care for many diseases by overcoming the inaccessibility, invasiveness and lack of reliability associated with current diagnostic approaches that limit their usefulness in drug development, disease detection, disease monitoring, and personalised treatment selection.”

The companies have not disclosed the financial details related to the merger.

Healthcare companies are hesitant to invest in the metaverse

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the healthcare industry to rapid digitalization. Increased use of telehealth, telepresence systems, remote diagnostics, predictive AI, and wearable technology is changing how healthcare is delivered and improving patient outcomes. Emerging technologies such as AR and VR are becoming increasingly routine for professional training, surgical assistance, and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. In the pharma and medical devices industries, AR, VR, and AI are rapidly accelerating drug discovery and manufacturing and generating supply chain efficiencies. New digital opportunities will look to build upon disruptive technologies. However, affordability is a limiting factor to widespread adoption. Per GlobalData estimates, the metaverse market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33% between 2023 and 2030. Although metaverse technologies could reinvent healthcare approaches and bring new experiences to healthcare providers and patients, adoption is still at an early stage. There are currently few use cases in the healthcare industry. The metaverse needs to overcome major challenges for healthcare, including regulation and data privacy concerns. Evidence of proven use cases and participation by a critical mass of users are imperative to drive a shift in metaverse investment.

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