ACCELERATE2030

GLOBAL FINALIST PROFILE

“We are a biotechnology company developing fast and low cost diagnostics and a disease surveillance system. Our goal is to solve the problem of lack of access to a timely diagnostic for 3 billion people living in the developing world and in low resource settings in developed countries.”

Unima

MEXICO

The Problem

Almost 3 billion people living in emerging and developing countries or in low resource settings in high-income countries suffer from lack of access to a timely diagnostic. Current diagnostic technologies can detect diseases with a high level of accuracy, but they require specialized equipment and technicians which are very scarce in many regions.

Each year there are 10 million new cases of Tuberculosis, and globally, one-third of all cases are not diagnosed. The global strategy for Tuberculosis control after 2015 aims at a 95% reduction in deaths and a 90% reduction in incidence by 2035. To achieve the health target 3.3 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO goal of eradication of TB by 2035, the implementation of new health-system strategies and diagnostic tools are critically important.

The Solution

Unima has developed a fast and low cost diagnostic and disease surveillance technology that allows anyone, even those with no medical training, to diagnose a disease directly where the patient is, without using lab equipment, with results in 15 minutes and at a cost of $1 per test.

This is a platform technology that allows Unima the development of qualitative and quantitative tests for different diseases that will help patients to receive treatment sooner and will narrow the population that needs confirmatory testing. Also, it will help to reduce costs associated to healthcare and healthcare staff’s workload, while also increasing the number of patients diagnosed on time. The real-time data resulting from these diagnostics is used by governments, health organizations and pharmaceutical companies to create better products and strategies to stop disease outbreaks and prevent pandemics.

The technology is based in the use of genetically modified recombinant antibodies from a shark engineered to catch specific biomarkers of diseases in blood, urine or saliva samples. These antibodies are printed in paper microfluidic devices, and when they get in contact with the sample from the patient they generate a visual reaction which is evaluated in a smartphone app by artificial intelligence algorithms.  

 

MARIA LAURA MENDOZA VILLASEÑOR

CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Online: www.unima.com.mx

 

Key Facts

  • The technology uses genetically modified recombinant antibodies from a shark, engineered to catch specific biomarkers of diseases in blood, urine or saliva samples.
  • Our platform technology can be tailored to build diagnostic tests for other diseases.
  • Our solution can be taken anywhere since it does not need electricity or an internet connection to provide a result.
  • Results provided by artificial intelligence through a smartphone app, taking away the need for human interpretation (and human error).

Markets

  • Current Markets:
    • Camaroon and Zambia (TB: Validation tests currently taking place.)
    • Soon launching in: Mexico, Guatemala, Indonesia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
  • Target Markets: Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Impact to Date

Below you will find some of the impact numbers of this venture to date. 

Clinical trials in Mexico 

demonstrated specificity and sensitivity greater than

%

with patients in hospitals in the state of Baja California. Results independently validated by the Salvador Zubiran National Health Institute.

Product cost estimated

as low as

$1 USD

per test

Unima team has 

years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Investors and Partners

We invite you to join us in Geneva, Switzerland to learn about this venture and the other ten 2019 Accelerate2030 global finalists. Please contact us to learn how you can engage with us.

Media Inquiries

Please contact:

Annie Freyschlag
Communications and Programme Assistant
annie.freyschlag@impacthub.ch

MEDIA KIT
Press Release: Please visit homepage for link
2019 International Finalist Ventures
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