If you are admitted into a hospital you have 10% risk of contracting a Healthcare-acquired infection (nosocomial disease) according to WHO report 2011. These infections kill more than car crashes or breast cancer.
GaDia is Swiss startup developing an innovative, patented rapid in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test to detect nosocomial diseases. More specifically we develop new rapid Point-Of-Care (POC) diagnostic tests to differentiate healthcare-acquired fungal infections from other causes of infections.
Our Mission:
Bring Complex Diagnostics to Patient’s Bed
Our Vision:
When time matters! GaDia reinvents the diagnostic of life-threatening diseases to quickly provide the right information to healthcare professionals.
The challenge of nosocomial
disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Healthcare-Acquired Infections (HCAI) or nosocomial diseases are the leading cause of preventable deaths and their prevalence are 7-15% of the hospitalized population.
The risk of being infected by HCA infections is significantly higher in intensive care units (ICUs), with approximately 30% of patients affected by at least one episode of HCA Infection. The mortality attribuable to nosocomial disease is estimated between 20-50%.
Annual financial expenses due to HCA Infections are estimated at approximately EUR 7 billion in Europe, direct costs only and reflecting 16 million extra days of hospital stay.
The Burden of Fungal Infections
Globally, over 300 million of people suffer from serious fungal infections every year with 1.6 million of deaths. Many deaths caused by fungal infections are avoidable with a rapid diagnostic and the right treatment. Thanks to our expertise in the rapid diagnostic test and in infectious disease, GaDia has developed a portfolio of rapid test for the rapid and accurate diagnostic of fungal infections.
Immunocompromised patients (Transplantation, ICU, Cancer, AIDS, TB, long term use of antibiotics or corticoid, etc) can easily develop life-threatening fungal infections. More than 80% of fungal infection are caused by Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., and Cryptococcus spp. with high mortality rates, ranged from 30% to 100%. The biggest challenge faced by clinician is the absence of rapid and accurate diagnostics. Existing procedures, such as culture and microscopy are time-consuming, request equipment and have low sensitivity and specificity. Rapid diagnostics are needed to reduce this time and to start quickly the right treatment. The challenge of GaDia is to reduce the overall mortality by decreasing the time-decision making process to start the adequate targeted therapy.
Because time matters!
|
Fungal infection |
Number affected |
Case fatality rate |
Estimated deaths |
|
Cryptococcal meningitis |
223,000 in AIDS |
15-20% USA |
180,000 in AIDS |
|
Invasive aspergillosis |
>1,000,000 |
~30% mortality in leukaemia in HIC ~45-70% in COPD ~30% mortality if treated in HIC -in AIDS |
>500,000
>30,000 in AIDS >125,000 in non-AIDS |
|
Invasive candidiasis |
>750,000 |
~40-70% mortality |
>350,000 |
|
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis |
>3,000,000 |
~15-40% mortality in HIC |
>450,000 in non hospitalised populations |
|
Total |
~13,500,000 |
>1,600,000 |
Data from: www.gaffi.org
Our Solutions
According to GaDia’s goal of reducing mortality of Healthcare-Acquired Infections and fungal diseases, the tool that GaDia is developing is a predictive rapid test for early identification of fungal infections. This rapid and predictive in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test discriminates fungal infections ( Candida sp.) from others life-threatening Healthcare-Acquired Infections.
GaDia innovation is the combination of newly targeted and patented biomarkers specific to fungal infections. The test is performed at patient bed (Point of care), is easy-to-use and rapid (15 minutes), reducing the risk of wrong interpretation. Moreover, the science used allows GaDia to predictively detect the fungal infections 2-4 days before it reaches the systemic stage (Bloodstream Infection or sepsis), therefore reducing mortality.
More info on our products
About GaDia SA
GaDia was founded in 2019 and is located in the Heart of Swiss Health Valley in the startup incubator BioArk in Monthey (Switzerland).
The project was initiated by Percevent J Ducrest (MSc), graduated from University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) and Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). Percevent received a grant from The Ark Foundation in 2018 to continue the assay development. He has conducted several R&D projects for external companies in the field of in vitro diagnostic tests and microbiology and is the inventor of 2 rapid diagnostic tests. In 2019, 2 C-level partners holding Bachelor and Master degrees in Finance and Management joined GaDia, bringing a wide expertise in corporate management positions in pharmaceutical and medical device businesses in Switzerland and abroad.
GaDia was finalist of the Prix Créateurs BCVs 2019.
Shortlisted for the Swiss MedTech Award 2020
Finalist and Top 3 best diagnostic Startup by SwissBiolabs Award 2020
Managing Team
Percevent J Ducrest – CEO & CSO
Percevent holds a BSc and MSc in Life Sciences and is a MBA candidate. He has founded GaDia SA in 2019 and is the CEO & CSO of the company. He is the inventor of the rapid tests developed by GaDia SA, co-inventor of other rapid diagnostic tests and author of scientific publications in the field of microbiology and diagnostics. Very attracted by innovation and entrepreneurship, Percevent works hard in transferring needs into adapted and relevant solutions for future generations. Percevent is also an International tennis chair umpire and has worked in several tournaments including Wimbledon and Australian Open.
Julien Mottiez – CFO
Julien holds a BSc in Economics from HEC Lausanne. He has a strong expertise in HR, Supply chain and Accounting. He has worked for big companies in Switzerland and abroad, especially for Coca Cola in Madrid (Spain) and BASF in Switzerland. Julien is board member of several companies and an expert in insurance.
Support and Partners
Our advisory Board members cover the expertise in Diagnostics, Infectious diseases and Business Management.