Investment Opportunity
Novai is an innovative UK biotechnology company, developing and commercialising transformational and disruptive technology in the ophthalmology area developed by Professor M Francesca Cordeiro at UCL and Imperial College, through Wellcome Trust Innovation funding.
Professor Cordeiro developed DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) over the last decade with a mission to improve patients’ lives through early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, with the ultimate aim of preventing functional loss. Our initial focus is on ophthalmic disorders with high unmet need such as glaucoma and AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration).
LIVE PITCHING
Novai pitching at an Angels Den online event
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INTERVIEW WITH ENTREPRENEUR
Interview with Dr Francesca Cordeira and Aman Kahn from Novai
INTERVIEW WITH LEAD INVESTOR
Interview with Novai's executive chairman and investor Dr Berwyn Clarke
THE IDEA
Products & Services
Our technology consists of a patented biological marker combined with a bespoke and patented Artificial Intelligence (AI) aided algorithm, allowing, for the first time in vivo, identification of cellular level disease activity in the retina. DARC consists of a fluorescent labeled Annexin protein, which binds to stressed and apoptotic cells in the retina.
The Company will sell access to its technology via a SAAS model, shipping product to customer sites and providing analysis using its AI algorithm via a cloud-based system. The Company will train the customer or the customer's Contract Research Organisation (CRO). The Company collates the data and provides a report to the customer.
Problem Solved
Clinical drug development is costly, time consuming, and carries a high degree of risk. Current clinical endpoints detect late changes, only after significant damage has been done to retinal cells. There is a lack of early disease biomarkers to objectively detect and measure cell health and response to treatment.
The DARC protein is administered via intravenous injection. Retinal images are taken (using standard imaging equipment), with individual apoptotic cells visible as white spots on the retina. The AI algorithm identifies the number and distribution of DARC spots, producing an objective 'DARC Count' report. Successful treatments will show a reduction in DARC count within weeks.
Revenue Model
There are two revenue channels: Pre-clinical (lab) trials, and clinical (human) trials.
Pre-clinical trials will generate £100K - £250K per compound tested (companies will provide compounds for testing with DARC, to determine their efficacy and suitability to advance to clinical trials).
For clinical trials, DARC is sold on a per-injection basis. Clinical trial revenues will range between £300K-£10M, depending on the number of patients tested and the duration of the trial. Patients are injected during triage (to identify fast progressing patients enabling enrichment of the trial cohort), then again at several time points during the trial.
Exit Strategy
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The Idea
Products & Services
Our technology consists of a patented biological marker combined with a bespoke and patented Artificial Intelligence (AI) aided algorithm, allowing, for the first time in vivo, identification of cellular level disease activity in the retina. DARC consists of a fluorescent labeled Annexin protein, which binds to stressed and apoptotic cells in the retina.
The Company will sell access to its technology via a SAAS model, shipping product to customer sites and providing analysis using its AI algorithm via a cloud-based system. The Company will train the customer or the customer's Contract Research Organisation (CRO). The Company collates the data and provides a report to the customer.
Problem Solved
Clinical drug development is costly, time consuming, and carries a high degree of risk. Current clinical endpoints detect late changes, only after significant damage has been done to retinal cells. There is a lack of early disease biomarkers to objectively detect and measure cell health and response to treatment.
The DARC protein is administered via intravenous injection. Retinal images are taken (using standard imaging equipment), with individual apoptotic cells visible as white spots on the retina. The AI algorithm identifies the number and distribution of DARC spots, producing an objective 'DARC Count' report. Successful treatments will show a reduction in DARC count within weeks.
Revenue Model
There are two revenue channels: Pre-clinical (lab) trials, and clinical (human) trials.
Pre-clinical trials will generate £100K - £250K per compound tested (companies will provide compounds for testing with DARC, to determine their efficacy and suitability to advance to clinical trials).
For clinical trials, DARC is sold on a per-injection basis. Clinical trial revenues will range between £300K-£10M, depending on the number of patients tested and the duration of the trial. Patients are injected during triage (to identify fast progressing patients enabling enrichment of the trial cohort), then again at several time points during the trial.
Exit Strategy
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