DETECTRA and TUUS Solutions Receive a FIT Support

The Foundation for Innovation and Technology (FIT) is supporting two new life sciences startups in the Vaud region with Tech Seed loans. DETECTRA receives 100’000 CHF to develop its solution for remote monitoring of joint inflammation in patients with inflammatory arthritis. TUUS Solutions has received a 100’000 CHF loan to advance its dietary gel, designed to improve nutrient absorption.

DETECTRA: detecting arthritis flare-ups between doctors’visits

Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis affect approximately 1% of the population in Europe and the United States. Between appointments, which are often spaced three to six months apart, doctors lack the tools needed to monitor flare-ups of joint inflammation, which can cause irreversible damage if not detected in time.

Arising from a research project at CHUV, DETECTRA is developing a platform for remote monitoring of joint inflammation using photos of the hands taken with a smartphone. An artificial intelligence algorithm then calculates the Finger Fold Index (FFI), which reflects the degree of swelling. Rheumatologists can thus identify signs of a flare-up earlier and prioritise patients requiring intervention. The technology is currently undergoing clinical validation as part of European trials.

Thanks to a 100’000 CHF loan granted by FIT, DETECTRA will be able to prepare for market entry and co-fund pilot projects at partner clinics with a view to launching in Switzerland.

TUUS Solutions: a food hydrogel for improved nutrient absorption

TUUS Solutions is developing a food-grade hydrogel that enables a constant gastric release, known as “zero-order”. Composed of natural and inexpensive ingredients, the hydrogel releases nutrients gradually to ensure a steady and better-tolerated supply.

In nutrition, supplementation and drug delivery, the rate at which an active is released into the body is crucial: if the body’s speed is unmatched, it reduces the product’s effectiveness and causes side effects. TUUS’s solution offers an accessible alternative to existing controlled-release technologies, which are often imprecise, costly and difficult to formulate with food ingredients.

With the 100’000 CHF Tech Seed loan granted by FIT, TUUS Solutions will be able to finance the pilot production of its energy gel, continue its validation under real-world conditions, and strengthen its collaboration with industrial partners.

➡️ Source: FIT | 📸 ©DETECTRA, TUUS Solutions