miDiagnostics

miDiagnostics is developing an ultra-fast and user-friendly Covid-19 molecular test based on silicon-chip technology, combining the reliability of a lab-based PCR test with the speed of an antigen test.

The miDiagnostics technology was invented by imec, Belgium’s world-leading research and innovation centre for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and Johns Hopkins University, the leading US research and medical centre.

The menu will be expanded in the future to include other respiratory indications, sexually transmitted diseases and any other molecular test for which a combination of decentralisation, diagnostic accuracy and ease of use could be advantageous. At the same time, portable cellular diagnostic devices are being developed, which could eventually be used in the home.

Since early 2022, with Vyvgart, a drug against the rare muscle disease myasthenia gravis, argenx has a first drug available in the US and Japanese markets. In August, Vyvgart also received approval for the European market.

In a series A capital round in 2015, PMV participated alongside investors Marc Coucke, Michel Akkermans and Imec. In 2020, miDiagnostics raised another EUR 14 million in an investment round supported by existing shareholders and leading life sciences and technology investors such as tech entrepreneur Rudi Pauwels and life science entrepreneur Urbain Vandeurzen.

In 2021, miDiagnostics will receive a 20 million loan from the European investment bank to scale up its Covid-19 rapid PCR tests. The first pilot studies have been successfully completed at Zaventem airport and in screening the cycling teams at the Vuelta.