Femtech firm develops reusable pregnancy test
The femtech company Pharmista Technologies is developing an eco-friendly pregnancy test, which can be used many times. The company has now been admitted to SmiLe’s incubator program.
The pregnancy test is the most widely used home diagnostic test in the world. Alice Mattsson and her co-founder Robert Porter — a researcher and entrepreneur who has previously developed other rapid diagnostic tests — are developing a pregnancy test that can be easily and hygienically reused.
Customers buy a monitor that contains chemical substances and electronics. Replaceable paper strips are loaded into the monitor before each test. The results appear on a display, which provides a simpler reading than currently available tests. The paper strips do not contain environmentally hazardous substances and are made of cellulose that is easily biodegradeable. An initial prototype of the pregnancy test is expected to be ready this autumn, after which the company plans to raise more capital.
Alice Mattsson’s business concept has received considerable attention; for example, she was one of the entrepreneurs who won the Best Business Idea of the Year in the 2020 Venture Cup. Pharmista Technologies is also the first company in which Malmö University’s holding company, MAU Holding, chose to invest.
Mattsson said: “It feels great to be accepted to SmiLe's incubator program and become part of the SmiLe community. When I was ready to apply to an incubator, SmiLe was my first choice. I can get support here in those areas where I lack personal experience and competence, such as patents and regulatory aspects.”
Last year, she participated in the entrepreneurship program SmiLe HealthTech Bootcamp. She has now further developed the company and meets the criteria for admission to the incubator program.
Lina Boreson, chief operating officer for SmiLe Incubator, said: “We’re excited to be able to support Alice Mattsson in the development of her company. She is one of many talented young entrepreneurs who apply to SmiLe with innovations that will solve some of today's problems in the health area, while also pursuing a clear sustainability profile.”
Pharmista’s group of external advisors includes Dr. Christina Östberg Lloyd, a gynaecologist with experience in the life science industry and who is now CEO of the femtech company Pharmiva, Börje Sellergren, professor of biomedical technology at Malmö University, and Erika Toft, innovation adviser at Malmö University.