rHEALTH’s FVIII Point-of-Care Device Awarded $1.5M Direct-to-Phase II Grant from the NIH
BEDFORD, Mass., October 8, 2020 – rHEALTH LLC, a Diagnose Yourself, Anywhere™ company, announced today that its technology is the focus of a grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award is made to rHEALTH’s affiliate, DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), which has granted rHEALTH commercial rights to the technology.
The grant will support further development of rHEALTH’s fingerstick-based point-of-care platform for monitoring FVIII and emicizumab levels in hemophilia A patients. The device requires only a tiny blood sample and delivers results in 15 minutes via its app-driven, Bluetooth-connected interface. Unlike conventional central lab FVIII testing, which requires large, complex analyzers, rHEALTH’s technology offers rapid, accurate results at the patient’s side. This accessibility addresses underdiagnosis and challenges in managing bleeding episodes and surgeries, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
The project brings together two distinguished collaborators: World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). WFH, an international non-profit improving the lives of those with genetic bleeding disorders, will support field-based studies in the developing world. BCH, ranked #1 pediatric hospital in the U.S. by US News & World Report, will benchmark device performance against lab analyzers and expand access for its patients.
Alain Baumann, CEO of WFH, commented:
"The rHEALTH point-of-care platform has the potential to transform hemophilia A care worldwide. A simple, accurate device for monitoring FVIII and emicizumab expands testing beyond hospital settings, improving patient outcomes."
Glenn Pierce, MD, PhD, VP of Medical, WFH, added:
"This technology makes testing more accessible, reliable, and user-friendly—addressing critical gaps in care for hemophilia patients."
Eugene Chan, MD, CEO of rHEALTH, said:
"Our mission is to advance point-of-care diagnostics for hemophilia patients, giving them an easy-to-use tool to manage their condition. This award-winning, patented platform leverages our CE-marked two-stage fluorogenic assay to provide highly accurate FVIII measurements across <1% to 200% levels."
About rHEALTH®
rHEALTH is a digital health solutions company focused on developing and commercializing Diagnose Yourself, Anywhere™ technology. Its blood sensor platform has earned multiple XPRIZE awards, NASA support for astronaut health monitoring, and over a dozen issued patents. The platform enables diverse laboratory tests from a single tiny blood sample. For more information, visit www.rhealth.com.
About DNA Medicine Institute
DNA Medicine Institute (DMI) is a biomedical incubator advancing patient care, alleviating human suffering, and treating disease through innovation. Its technology is supported by NASA, NIH, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. DMI combines interdisciplinary science and engineering expertise to solve complex biomedical challenges. For more information, visit www.dnamedinstitute.com.
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