Novai

Founded 2020
Employees 15+
Primary contact
The White Building
33 King's Road
RG1 3AR Reading
United Kingdom
+44 207 1838 895
Diseases & Conditions
Sections
Novai is a cutting-edge biotech company developing solutions for the detection and treatment of retinal diseases. At the heart of Novai's technology is DARC (Detection of Apoptosing in Retinal Cells), a revolutionary method for detecting early signs of apoptosis (cell death) in the retina. DARC combines an innovative patented biologic with a state-of-the-art AI algorithm that enables the identification of cellular-level disease activity. This is the first time such observations in humans have been possible using standard imaging equipment. Developed by Professor M Francesca Cordeiro at University College London through Wellcome Trust funding, DARC has the potential to revolutionize the way retinal diseases are diagnosed and treated.
Founded 2020
Employees 15+
Primary contact
The White Building
33 King's Road
RG1 3AR Reading
United Kingdom
+44 207 1838 895
Diseases & Conditions
Sections

Funding πŸ’°

Total Β£4M
Select investors SFC Capital, Ascension, ExSight Ventures, Conduit Connect, Innovate UK

Key people πŸ§‘β€πŸ€β€πŸ§‘

Highlights ⭐

  • Helping pharmaceuticals: DARC technology helps Novai's pharmaceutical clients in both pre-clinical and clinical settings. In the former setup, it can produce a translatable endpoint to determine asset advancement to clinical settings. And in the latter, DARC can help optimize trials through informed patient stratification and as an exploratory endpoint. πŸ”—
  • Disease Areas: One of the key applications of Novai's technology is in the early detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. DARC's ability to detect early signs of cell death in the retina could lead to earlier and more effective treatment for patients with AMD, potentially preserving their vision for longer. In addition, this technology also has the potential to be used in the detection and treatment of other retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa. Nonophthalmic pipeline indications include multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes mellitus. πŸ”—
  • Experienced CEO: In March 2023, Novai announced the appointment of Alison Howie to the role of CEO. Alison has over 25 years experience in the life sciences and diagnostics sectors, holding senior leadership and C-suite roles with a strong focus on innovation and commercialization, with companies including: IXICO plc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and DNAe. She has an executive MBA from London Business School and a BSc in Chemistry from Aberdeen University.

Awards & Recognitions πŸ†

  • 2023 UK StartUp Awards South East England: Finalist
  • 2022 Dammam BioTech Valley Startups Competition: First Place
  • 2021 OBN Awards: Among the top 3 Best Biotech Startups
  • 2020 Best Newcomer in the Clinical Trials Excellence Awards
  • 2020 Shenzhen Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition: UK division winner
Last update: April 6, 2023