ViroGates A/S and GENSPEED Biotech GmbH have achieved a significant breakthrough in point-of-care chronic inflammation testing, announcing successful proof of concept for their enhanced suPARnostic® POC+ product with improved sensitivity for the longevity diagnostics market. The collaboration addresses critical limitations in measuring suPAR biomarkers at lower concentrations essential for preventative healthcare applications.
Enhanced Sensitivity Addresses Clinical Limitations
The original suPARnostic® POC+ product, initially developed for acute care settings, demonstrated limitations in precision and consistency at lower suPAR levels, which are critical for applications in general health and longevity testing. The collaboration has yielded significant improvements by modifying system components and procedures, enabling more accurate measurement of suPAR in the lower concentration range.
The enhanced product now demonstrates improved analytical sensitivity in the relevant 2-6 ng/mL range with low variation. Additionally, optimized calibration curves and the use of human plasma-based calibrators have brought assay results closer to ELISA standards, addressing previous concerns from clinical users.
Point-of-Care Innovation for Broader Healthcare Access
The suPARnostic® POC+ product represents a significant advancement in accessibility for chronic inflammation testing. The system requires only finger-prick blood samples and delivers results in approximately 20 minutes, enabling suPAR testing in smaller healthcare settings where access to larger analyzers or intravenous blood sampling options may be limited.
Jakob Knudsen, CEO of ViroGates, emphasized the strategic importance of this development: "This collaboration with GENSPEED marks a pivotal step in expanding the utility of our suPARnostic® platform beyond our current target segments of highly specialised longevity clinics. The first results are encouraging and align with our vision of enabling proactive health management through accessible biomarker testing in new market segments."
Technology Platform and Market Positioning
The collaboration leverages GENSPEED's proprietary technology platform, which combines microfluidics, miniaturized opto-electronics, and automation as the basis of a small, reliable, and IVDR CE-certified test system. The GENSPEED system can detect up to 8 biomarkers as a multiplex assay on-site within minutes with high sensitivity.
Max Sonnleitner, CEO of GENSPEED Biotech GmbH, highlighted the platform's adaptability: "We are excited to work on this enhanced version of our product together with ViroGates, as it highlights the adaptability of the GENSPEED platform for next-generation biomarker testing. The improved sensitivity in the relevant suPAR range enables us to address the specific needs of the longevity diagnostics market."
Clinical Significance of suPAR Biomarker
suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) is a protein measurable in plasma from every human being, serving as a general risk status biomarker indicating chronic inflammation, disease presence, and severity. The biomarker's utility extends beyond acute care settings to support healthcare professionals and individuals in making better clinical decisions for proactive health management.
Development Timeline and Next Steps
Both companies have committed to equal cost-sharing, demonstrating their joint commitment to innovation in the longevity diagnostics space. The most promising assay variant will undergo final validation using the GENSPEED analyzer to confirm performance metrics under standard operating conditions, including analytical performance parameters such as variability, reproducibility, and stability.
The companies aim to launch the improved product at the end of Q4 2025, pending final validation results. This timeline positions the enhanced suPARnostic® POC+ product to enter the growing longevity diagnostics market with improved technical specifications that address previous clinical limitations.
