A Northumbria University spin-out set up to help battle the pandemic is developing a new test that could lead to earlier diagnosis of asthma ‘on a global scale’.

The condition affects more than eight million people, or approximately 12 per cent of the UK population, but now PulmoBioMed is preparing to launch PBM-Hale following a successful investment round that raised £1.4m to commercialise the technology.

PulmoBioMed’s innovative breath sampling technology offers a fast, non-invasive way to obtain fluid samples from the deep lung without contamination by fluids from the mouth. Traditional sampling devices cannot distinguish between the two, which can give unclear or misleading diagnostic results, while other methods are highly invasive.

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The hand-held device captures the breath as the patient exhales and separates large aerosol droplets which come from the mouth from fine droplets which come from the deep lung. Clinical studies have shown that it provided uncontaminated deep lung samples in just two minutes that helped detect and quantify lung infections and inflammation in 100 per cent of symptomatic cases.

The device, which consists of a facemask, disposable mouthpiece, condenser and a sealed sampling unit is easy to use and over 40 times cheaper than an endoscopy.

The Northern Echo: The PulmoBioMed teamThe PulmoBioMed team (Image: Submitted)

PulmoBioMed was founded in 2020 by Professor Sterghios A. Moschos, a molecular biologist with over 20 years of experience, who achieved international renown as leader of the team that developed a point-of-need test for Ebola virus disease in 2015 during the outbreak in West Africa.

PulmoBioMed has already completed one successful UK government contract and initially plans to target the US market and focus on asthma diagnosis, though the device is suitable for diagnosing other conditions including types of pneumonia. It could also improve outcomes for lung cancer patients by providing a better way to detect returning tumours.

Funds were raised by an investment round led by the North East Venture Fund (NEVF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Mercia Ventures, and included Northumbria University, SFC Capital and private investors in the USA, EU and UK. The company has also secured a £700,000 grant from Innovate UK.

Professor Moschos, founder and CEO, said: “By helping clinicians understand their patient’s disease and select treatments that work, PBM-Hale has the potential to transform respiratory care.”

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Northumbria University, said: “PulmoBioMed’s technology could deliver enormous impact in healthcare on a global scale and we are thrilled to see this recognised through strong investor confidence in this Northumbria spin-out.

“It further evidences our commitment to driving economic growth in the region, boosting the development of new businesses and supporting the creation of new high-quality jobs here in the North East.”