Technology Opportunities

Enables detection from 15-17th week of pregnancy

Highlights

• Diagnostic for early detection of preeclampsia in blood of pregnant women
• Clinical symptoms of preeclampsia usually begin to be manifested from week 20
• Studies in healthy and preeclampsic human placentas
• Detected protein in human serum from weeks 15-17 – proof of concept for ELISA tests

Our Innovation

A human-specific splicing variant of VEGF receptor 1 (Flt1) was discovered, producing a soluble receptor (designated sFlt1-14) that is qualitatively different from the previously described soluble receptor (sFlt1), and functioning as a potent VEGF inhibitor. Expression of sFlt1-14 is dramatically elevated in the placenta of women with preeclampsia (PE). Two antibodies to the human-specific isoform of the gene responsible for preeclampsia were produced.

Key Features

• Simple blood test to demonstrate presence of condition from 15th week of pregnancy
• Enables increased prenatal vigilance before onset of clinical symptoms to protect both fetus and maternal organs

Development Milestones

Successful detection of protein in blood of pregnant women 3-5 weeks before onset of clinical symptoms

The Opportunity

Preeclampsia affects both the mother and the unborn baby in 5-8% of all pregnancies and is a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year.