Serox Limited

Mission: Deliver low-cost, non-invasive in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) for high-incidence diseases at the point-of-care. Approach: Using Raman Spectroscopy and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to achieve detection beyond current standard-of-care IVDs. Existing research supports identifying target diseases in urine using this approach. Focus: Serox has attracted a fantastic array of scientific and medical advisors and has established clinical relationships to help validate its approach, initially in bladder, prostate and kidney cancers. The intention is to ‘bundle’ tests which may be requested together, say when a patient presents with blood in their urine. Women’s cancers will follow, along with point-of-care speciation of Urinary Tract Infections. Differentiation: Serox displaces chemistry with photonics and Machine Learning, to allow urinalysis to avoid invasive procedures (blood taking, biopsy cystoscopy). Serox is following a data-focussed path that will lead to the personalisation of IVD. Timeliness: Raman Spectroscopy and SERS have long been used in advanced laboratories. The price of lasers and detectors is falling, and the usability and deployability of Raman Spectrometer improving. Machine Learning allows the ability to diagnose from the aggregate of Raman shifts in complex liquids. Together this unlocks the use of Raman Spectroscopy as a routine diagnostic. Outcome: Serox offers the prospect of a low-cost cartridge that be used remotely to acquire a urine sample, or in a clinic at the point-of-care, that can be processed using a desktop analyser in less than three minutes to provide an answer with a high Negative Predictive Value, and sensitivity / specificity in line with the current standard-of-care. This could reduce referrals to cystoscopy and biopsy, ultimately transform screening, and reduce the unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials.