BrightSens Diagnostics: The Strasbourg-based startup ranked among the 100 startups to invest in in 2022 by Challenges magazine

Published on June 30, 2022

Today, diagnosing cancer or certain viral infections is not always easy or quick. Testing is costly and is too often performed on patients who are already experiencing symptoms—indicators of an advanced stage of the disease. To address this issue, Andrey Klymchenko, a research director at the Strasbourg Faculty of Pharmacy, has developed ultra-luminous fluorescent nanoparticles that target and accumulate on markers of various diseases, even at very low concentrations, directly in saliva or blood. This breakthrough technology makes it possible to easily detect the molecular traces left by diseases using small, simple, and inexpensive instruments and a smartphone app.

The founders of BrightSens Diagnostics:
, Andrey Klymchenko (CSO), John Volke (CEO), and Andreas Reisch (Process & Industrialization)

When they aggregate, BrightSens Diagnostics’ ultra-bright nanoparticles act as a nanoantenna. This nanoantenna recognizes its target (such as a specific molecule found in certain cancers), binds to it, and triggers an intense light reaction that is easily detectable in a biological sample.

The low cost and speed of this screening method (just a few minutes) are a major advantage for conducting mass screening campaigns, even among individuals who do not yet have any symptoms.

BrightSens is currently developing rapid tests to detect COVID-19 and its new variants. Their next goal will be to revolutionize the early diagnosis of cancer with rapid detection kits : a crucial public health tool, as early diagnosis increases the chances of recovery and reduces the long-term effects of the disease and its treatments.

The stakes are so high that BrightSens was ranked among the top 100 startups to invest in for 2022 by Challenges magazine—a remarkable achievement for a young startup founded in 2021.