Owlstone Medical Secures Funding from the Gates Foundation for Breath-Based Disease Detection

In a major step toward transforming early disease detection and precision medicine, Owlstone Medical has announced funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The renowned leader in Breath Biopsy®, Owlstone Medical, is set to receive a $5 million equity investment along with a $1.5 million grant to advance their innovative Breath Biopsy platform.

In collaboration with the Gates Foundation, Owlstone Medical aims to develop cost-effective detection technologies for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could act as markers for diseases disproportionately affecting the developing world. With a focus on tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), Owlstone Medical intends to explore the potential of breath-based testing for swift screening and early diagnosis.

The $5 million equity investment will drive advancements in the Breath Biopsy platform, aiding the expansion of the Breath Biopsy VOC Atlas database and the creation of a remote-use real-time breath analyzer. Notably, this marks the foundation’s initial equity position in a breath diagnostics company, highlighting the transformative potential of Owlstone Medical’s technology.

Furthermore, the $1.5 million grant will back two pivotal projects:

• TB Research: In partnership with the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Owlstone aims to pinpoint a panel of on-breath candidate VOC biomarkers for TB diagnosis. This project aims to leverage metabolic features of TB using in vitro approaches, potentially revolutionizing TB diagnostics in resource-constrained settings.
• HIV Investigation: Collaborating with researchers from Imperial College, UK, and Oxford University, UK, Owlstone will analyze VOCs from blood samples of HIV-positive individuals to identify candidate VOC biomarkers correlating with HIV viral load. This endeavor holds promise for enhancing HIV management strategies.

Apart from its collaboration with the Gates Foundation, Owlstone Medical is involved in the ‘EXHALE’ project with the US Department of Defense. This initiative focuses on crafting a handheld device capable of non-invasive detection of pre-symptomatic respiratory infectious diseases, further solidifying Owlstone’s commitment to advancing global health initiatives.

Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO of Owlstone Medical, expressed gratitude for the foundation’s investment, emphasizing the potential of breath analysis to transform infectious disease diagnosis. He highlighted Owlstone Medical’s dedication to accelerating the discovery and validation of VOC biomarkers, alongside the creation of user-friendly diagnostic devices.

With backing from the Gates Foundation and strategic collaborations, Owlstone Medical is poised to make significant strides in breath-based disease detection, offering hope for earlier diagnosis and improved health outcomes, especially in underserved communities.