Genetic Analysis’ CTO finalist in the Lyfebulb and Bristol Myers Squibb Innovation Challenge addressing unmet needs in IBD
OSLO, NORWAY, January 27, 2023 – Molecular diagnostics specialist, Genetic Analysis AS (“GA”) is happy to announce that GA’s Chief Technology Officer Kari Furu was a finalist in the Lyfebulb 2022 Innovation Challenge in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb (“BMS”) to address unmet needs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (“IBD”). Kari presented GA’s IBD Biomarker Project to an expert jury spanning business, venture capital, and healthcare industries in a summit at BMS' premises in Princeton, New Jersey on 25th January.
Kari Furu was selected in December 2022 as one of ten finalists in the Lyfebulb 2022 Innovation Challenge. The finalists were selected based on the potential impact on patients and their loved ones, as well as the feasibility and sustainability of innovations in the market. Kari Furu presented GA’s IBD Biomarker Project – developing a new diagnostic test for launch in the IBD field. GA’s project aims to meet a significant unmet clinical need “An unmet need in IBD diagnostics – microbiota as a diagnostic prediction tool”. This product will be an important aid in identifying the optimal treatment regime for IBD patients, ensuring a personalized care.
The industry expert panel of judges included:
- Greg Lewis, President & Managing Partner, Calcium
- Jackie Zimmerman, IBD Patient Ambassador
- Russell J. Wyborski, PhD, Director of IBD Ventures Investments, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
- Sophie Balzora, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
- Michael McInerney, Executive Director, Digital Health in Business Development Innovative Technologies at Bristol Meyers Squibb
Kari Furu, CTO, Genetic Analysis, comments:
“A targeted microbiota test enabling an optimized treatment regime for the individual IBD patient will reduce the disease burden by preventing unnecessary side-effects from inadequate treatment and preventing further disease progression. With most health-care costs related to IBD being driven by medication, this targeted treatment is expected to significantly reduce the economic burden of IBD to healthcare systems.”
Ronny Hermansen, CEO of Genetic Analysis, comments:
“We are extremely proud of Kari and the whole development team at GA. This nomination shows that GA-map® technology is at the forefront of innovation in the microbiome field, giving us great momentum as we continue taking microbiome diagnostics to the next level."
About the IBD Biomarker Project
The IBD Biomarker Project aims to develop a new diagnostic test for launch in the IBD field and is performed in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg and Akershus University Hospital, which will be the clinical sites for patient recruitment. GA has received grant funding of NOK 16 million from the Research Council of Norway.
