-by Johan Inborr
Vironova AB is a privately held Swedish biotech company based in Stockholm, which develops and markets virus analysis products and services, based on its proprietary automated (computerized) image analysis platform. The technology offers faster and more objective virus detection and identification, which is of particular importance for both national and regional Centres of Disease Control in times of emerging new viral pandemics and epidemics. Since time is of the essence to mobilize all possible counter measures for a threatening mass infection, Vironova’s technology offers a unique tool to the responsible authorities and stakeholders.
A rapid identification of the pathogen will save time and reduce health care expenditure, since this will enable the appropriate medication and patient care to be prescribed by the physicians. This, in turn, will save costs for the entire health care system and national economies, since mis-targeted prescriptions (such as antibiotics) and mass hospitalizations can be kept to a minimum or even avoided. Last, but not least, unnecessary human suffering can be avoided.
Vironova’s primary customers for its virus detection software are the hundreds of CDCs worldwide. In addition, there are military labs and national and regional reference labs as part of the national preparedness systems, which would find the Vironova automated virus detection products of significant value. A joint development collaboration with Olympus Soft Imaging Systems GmbH has resulted in a first virus diagnostics support product, which was launched in June 2008.
For the 2008 fiscal year (ending 31st of August, 2008) revenues amounted to SEK 3.5 million.
Vironova is seeking SEK 25 million in capital for the continued development; productification and global marketing of its virus detection software to include all viruses listed by i.a. US national authorities posing serious threats to the public.
About the author: Johan Inborr, PhD, VP Sales & Marketing
VIRONOVA AB, www.vironova.com
