Medicortex Finland Oy, a biotechnology company developing a diagnostic kit for brain injury detection based on a medical breakthrough biomarker, recently completed analyzing the results from the first clinical trial. The trial consisted of patients that were hospitalized due to a head injury.
“Collecting and testing human samples in a clinical trial is a significant accomplishment for Medicortex, and represents a meaningful step forward in the development of a fast inexpensive diagnostic kit for head injury” said Dr. Adrian Harel, Chief Executive Officer of Medicortex Finland. “Brain injury is a devastating condition leading to mortality if not diagnosed. The opportunity to develop the first portable non-invasive kit for head injury and concussion to help the patients and families that so desperately need it is remarkable”
In the clinical trial Medicortex collected body fluid samples of 12 patients who had sustained a head injury, and analyzed the presence of the novel biomarker between the patients and healthy control subjects. “The biodegradation product we are targeting has never before been used for TBI indication. The fact that we can readily find it in easily accessible body fluids such as urine and saliva enables us to develop a user-friendly diagnostic kit for TBI detection” says Dr. Harel.
Dr. Marten Kvist, Medical Director of Medicortex, says “We are excited of the clinical results which confirm the diagnostic potential of the unique biomarker, it will be further developed into a diagnostic aid for first responders and paramedics, it will help prioritize evacuation and reframe from administration of contraindicated medications”
Medicortex is working towards the validation of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) biomarker and incorporating it into a quick and reliable diagnostic kit that can be easily used by the first responders and healthcare professionals, and also by people with no medical profession.
The clinical trial was supported and funded in part by Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation). Medicortex is currently raising money for the next step clinical development of the brain injury test. The planned multicenter clinical study including up to 160 study subjects will prove the validity of the new biomarker test for TBI diagnostics.