Blu Biotech Inc. Announces a Patent License Agreement with University of Michigan

Blu Biotech Inc. entered into a Patent License Agreement with Innovation Partnerships at the University of Michigan (U-M) to develop and commercialize a Micro Gas Chromatography Photoionization Detector (Micro-GC-PID), that uses a patient’s breath to diagnose various forms of cancer, COVID-19 and related variants, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, and other acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. This novel diagnostic testing device was developed at the College of Engineering and the Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation through the efforts of Dr. Xudong Fan of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Dr. Kevin Ward of the Department of Emergency Medicine at U-M.

Under the terms of the agreement, Blu Biotech will produce and commercialize the device for use in diagnostic testing. Blu Biotech has the right to exclusively utilize the technology for breath analysis products in the United States and Canada, Europe, and non-exclusively in other parts of the world. The commercial device will combine high-performance breath analysis with point-of-care utilization for the diagnosis and monitoring of multiple diseases. Last month, two of the Principal Investigators leading clinical trials on behalf of Blu Biotech presented breakthrough results for lung cancer detection and colorectal detection at the International Thoracic Surgical Oncology Summit in New York and the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 17th Scientific Conference in Dublin, respectively.  According to the World Health Organization; cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths.

Drs. Fan and Ward along with other members of the U-M Weil Institute recently published on the ability of the technology to diagnose COVID-19 including the ability to distinguish between COVID-19 variants. The group has also previously demonstrated the technology’s promise in diagnosing and monitoring of ARDS, which is the severest form of lung injury affecting over 200,000 patients a year.

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with the University of Michigan, one of the world’s leading research institutions. Together we are going to reduce cancer mortality by early and accurate cancer screening and improve the care of the critically ill and injured. Blu Biotech’s expertise in biomarker development, together with University of Michigan’s patented hardware, data science and clinical expertise provides for the first time a realistic point of care commercial breath test,” said Robert Tavzel, Chief Executive Officer. “At Blu Biotech we continue to expand and develop breath biomarkers. Someday soon we will be able to target many other cancers, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, and even neurologic and heart diseases with the potential to save lives by early detection.”

“We are pleased to enter into a partnership with Blu Biotech Inc. for this exceptional advancement in breath-based diagnostic testing,” said Dr. Jeremy Nelson, Director of Physical Science Licensing at U-M Innovation Partnerships. “The University of Michigan is committed to positively impacting society, and together with Blu Biotech Inc. we hope to contribute to the development of a breakthrough point-of- care diagnostic for conditions that have invasive testing requirements.”

Current testing methods for lung cancer and colorectal cancer are invasive and costly for the patient and caregiver. For diseases such as ARDS, diagnostic testing consists of clinical scoring using x-rays and other information which makes early and concise diagnoses and monitoring extremely challenging. The Blu Biotech method provides a test that is point of care, noninvasive, low cost, and can be performed without a third-party laboratory or lab staff.

Dr. John C. Hogan, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Blu Biotech Inc. added, “We are confident that we can continue to develop biomarkers that allow us to identify nearly any condition in breath. Imagine a test for sepsis or Alzheimer’s or Traumatic Brain Injury, that you can have at a primary or urgent care center. The possibilities for potential lifesaving diagnosis are unprecedented. Our coalition of incredibly talented people across the globe, like the team at U-M, will continue to allow us to target the most damaging maladies in the world.”

About Blu Biotech Inc.
Blu Biotech Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company that utilizes bioengineering, biostatistics, analytical chemistry, machine learning and clinical trial research to discover and develop breath biomarkers, and to translate the biomarker information into a diagnostic testing platform that improves patient outcomes. Blu Biotech has developed a device about the size of shoebox that will be utilized by physicians at point of care. The device is fully automated and does not require special training or staff certification, it just needs a breath sample and a power outlet. The test takes minutes, the results are generated immediately so the patient will have the information before they leave the physician’s office.
For more information, please visit www.blubiotech.com

About Innovation Partnerships University of Michigan
Innovation Partnerships, a unit based in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Michigan, is the primary gateway for U-M researchers seeking to increase the impact of their work by connecting with the private sector. Innovation Partnerships’ team of experts help amplify the impact of U-M research through corporate-sponsored research collaborations, licensing and intellectual property strategies and connections with business mentors, entrepreneurs, and investors to support startup company formation.
For more information, please visit https://innovationpartnerships.umich.edu

About the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation

The team at the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation (formerly the Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care) is dedicated to pushing the leading edge of research to develop new technologies and novel therapies for the most critically ill and injured patients. Through a unique formula of innovation, integration and entrepreneurship that was first imagined by Weil, their multi-disciplinary teams of health providers, basic scientists, engineers, data scientists, commercialization coaches, donors and industry partners are taking a boundless approach to re- imagining every aspect of critical care medicine.
For more information, visit weilinstitute.med.umich.edu.

About University of Michigan Department of Biomedical Engineering
The University of Michigan Department of Biomedical Engineering is continually building upon a 50+ year tradition of excellence and a strong partnership as a joint department between Michigan Engineering and the U-M Medical School, fostering collaboration between engineers and clinicians to solve challenges in healthcare. U-M BME is a leader in regenerative medicine, imaging & biophotonics, micro-and nanotech & molecular engineering, neural engineering, biomechanics, engineering education, and computation & modeling. We reach across disciplines and translate technologies from the lab to patients and healthcare providers. Our newly reimagined curriculum and pioneering design program give students the tools necessary to invent the next generation solutions in healthcare and beyond.
For more information, please visit bme.umich.edu.

Dr. Kevin Ward, Dr. Sherman Fan, and the University of Michigan have a financial interest in Blu Biotech, Inc.

For further information, please contact:
Blu Biotech Inc
Robert Tavzel
Email : [email protected]

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