NovaKonexus™ is revolutionizing healthcare and rehabilitation by integrating advanced technologies, including AI, robotics, and digital health solutions. Guided by the “Innovation for Life mission,” we bridge cutting-edge research, clinical implementation, and scalable commercialization to deliver transformative solutions addressing critical needs in neurorehabilitation, orthopaedics, and geriatrics.

Our innovations—such as AI-powered exoskeletons, neurorehabilitation devices, wearable sensors, and telerehabilitation platforms—empower patients to regain mobility, independence and quality of life. Leveraging strategic partnerships with Germany’s Michels Kliniken GmbH & Co. KG, Singapore’s Robotimize Group, and Canada’s University Health Network (UHN), we ensure rigorous validation, seamless clinical integration, and global distribution of our technologies.

Through Switzerland’s MotusAcademy, we educate healthcare professionals and advocate for adopting advanced rehabilitation technologies, driving policy change and industry-wide transformation. Supported by an expansive ecosystem of academic, clinical, and industry partners, NovaKonexus™ is positioned as a global leader in delivering innovative, patient-centred healthcare solutions.

With a focus on impactful collaboration and sustainable innovation, NovaKonexus™ is shaping the future of rehabilitation, creating measurable outcomes for patients, and unlocking significant value for stakeholders worldwide.

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UNMET NEED

The global healthcare sector urgently needs innovative solutions in rehabilitation and geriatric care. With the rapidly ageing population—projected to exceed 2.1 billion people aged 60 and older by 2050—there is a pressing demand for advanced technologies supporting independence, mobility, and recovery. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of neurological disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases has created an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, leaving millions without adequate access to effective rehabilitation.

Traditional rehabilitation approaches are resource-intensive, location-dependent, and often unable to meet the diverse needs of patients, particularly in underserved or remote areas. This gap is exacerbated by the lack of scalable, technology-driven solutions that deliver personalized, adaptive, and cost-effective care. The global neurorehabilitation devices market, valued at approximately USD 2 billion in 2023, continues to grow, yet many patients remain unable to access these life-changing innovations.

NovaKonexus™ addresses these unmet needs by delivering clinically validated, AI-powered robotics, wearable sensors, and telerehabilitation platforms. Our solutions bridge the gap between research and practical application, empowering patients with personalized care while reducing systemic burdens. By transforming the rehabilitation landscape, NovaKonexus™ ensures equitable access to life-enhancing technologies, improving patient outcomes worldwide.

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‍INNOVATION

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NovaKonexus™ is pioneering transformative innovations in rehabilitation and healthcare, leveraging advanced technologies to address critical needs in neurorehabilitation, orthopaedics, and geriatrics. Our solutions integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, wearable sensors, and digital health platforms, ensuring personalized, scalable, and effective care for patients worldwide.

1.    AI-Powered Exoskeletons: Advanced robotic systems designed to restore mobility for patients with neurological impairments. These devices combine AI and biomechanics to adapt to individual needs, enhancing gait recovery and improving independence.

2.    Neurorehabilitation Devices: Technologies incorporating neurostimulation and brain-computer interfaces to foster neuroplasticity, accelerate recovery, and enable patients to regain lost functions after strokes or brain injuries.

3.    Digital Health Platforms: Telerehabilitation tools that provide remote monitoring, personalized therapy plans, and real-time communication between patients and clinicians. These platforms ensure access to high-quality care, especially for underserved populations.

4.    Wearable Sensors: Intelligent devices that track patient progress, monitor vital signs, and deliver actionable insights for clinicians to optimize treatment plans.

5.    Virtual Reality (VR) and Gamified Therapies: Immersive experiences to engage patients in rehabilitation, promoting adherence and improved outcomes.

By seamlessly integrating these innovations with clinical expertise and scalable distribution, NovaKonexus™ empowers patients to regain mobility, independence, and quality of life, while transforming global rehabilitation practices.

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APPLICATION/UTILITIES

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NovaKonexus™ technologies are redefining how rehabilitation and healthcare are delivered, ensuring advanced, accessible and scalable solutions that meet the needs of diverse patient populations. By integrating artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital platforms, our innovations offer applications and utilities across various domains:

1.    Neurorehabilitation: AI-powered exoskeletons and neurostimulation devices aid in restoring mobility, fostering neuroplasticity, and improving recovery for patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. These technologies enable targeted, adaptive therapies that accelerate progress and enhance independence.

2.    Orthopaedic Recovery: Robotics and wearable sensors optimize post-surgical rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injuries, delivering personalised therapy and real-time monitoring to support effective recovery.

3.    Geriatric Care: Digital health platforms and wearable devices empower older adults to maintain mobility and manage age-related conditions, offering remote monitoring and adaptive care to improve quality of life.

4.    Telerehabilitation: Remote access to therapy via virtual platforms ensures continuity of care for underserved or geographically isolated populations. Real-time clinician-patient communication and data-driven insights enhance treatment precision and patient outcomes.

5.    Education and Training: MotusAcademy provides clinicians with training and certification programs, promoting the effective adoption of NovaKonexus™ technologies in clinical settings.

With applications spanning neurorehabilitation, orthopaedics, geriatrics, and beyond, NovaKonexus™ delivers transformative solutions to enhance patient care and advance global healthcare standards.

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INVESTMENT/INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

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US$5M- US$10M required to: 

NovaKonexus™ seeks an investment of USD $5–10 million to advance its mission of transforming global healthcare and rehabilitation through cutting-edge technologies. This investment will enable the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative solutions, positioning NovaKonexus™ as a global leader in neurorehabilitation, orthopaedics, and geriatric care.

Objectives for the Investment

1.    Accelerate R&D and Product Development: The investment will support the refinement and advancement of AI-powered robotics, neurostimulation devices, wearable sensors and digital health platforms. These resources will ensure the delivery of clinically validated, market-ready solutions that address critical unmet needs in healthcare.

2.    Expand Clinical Trials and Validation: Resources will facilitate robust clinical trials in partnership with Michels Kliniken and UHN, ensuring product efficacy, safety, and compliance with international regulatory standards.

3.     Scale Manufacturing and Global Distribution: The investment will enable strategic partnerships with Robotimize Group and global distributors, streamlining production processes and accelerating market entry in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

4.    Advance Telerehabilitation and Patient Access: Funds will support the rollout of digital health platforms, ensuring equitable access to high-quality rehabilitation care, particularly for underserved populations.

By fulfilling these objectives, the investment will drive innovation, expand global reach, and deliver transformative healthcare solutions to enhance patient outcomes worldwide.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

NovaKonexus™ stands out as a pioneer in the healthcare and rehabilitation sector. It leverages cutting-edge technologies and a robust ecosystem of strategic partnerships to deliver unparalleled value.

1.    Innovative Technologies: NovaKonexus™integrates AI, robotics, neurostimulation, and digital health platforms to develop advanced rehabilitation solutions. Our AI-powered exoskeletons, wearable sensors, and telerehabilitation platforms offer adaptive, patient-centred therapies that accelerate recovery and improve outcomes.

2.    Validated Clinical Expertise: Collaborations with world-class institutions such as Michels Kliniken and the University Health Network (UHN) ensure rigorous clinical validation of all products. This approach guarantees safety, efficacy, and alignment with the highest healthcare standards.

3.    Global Distribution Network: Partnerships with Robotimize Group and other established distributors enable efficient global market entry. Our solutions are designed for seamless scalability, meeting the growing demand for rehabilitation technologies across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

4.    Patient-Centred Innovation: Unlike competitors, NovaKonexus™ focuses on restoring patient independence, dignity, and quality of life through personalized care solutions.

5.    Integrated Education and Advocacy: Through MotusAcademy, we empower healthcare professionals with training and certifications to ensure the effective adoption of our technologies, driving industry-wide transformation.

NovaKonexus™ combines technological excellence, clinical validation, and global reach, establishing itself as a leader in transformative healthcare solutions and setting new benchmarks in rehabilitation innovation.

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‍MARKET SIZE

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NovaKonexus™ operates within two rapidly expanding markets: neurorehabilitation devices and geriatric care services.

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Neurorehabilitation Devices Market
The global neurorehabilitation devices market was valued at approximately USD 2.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 13.9% from 2024 to 2030, reaching an estimated USD 6.1 billion by 2030.

[Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/neurorehabilitation-devices-market]

Geriatric Care Services Market
The global geriatric care services market was valued at around USD 1.45 trillion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% between 2024 and2032, reaching approximately USD 2.89 trillion by 2032. [Source: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/geriatric-care-services-market-report]  

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Market Drivers

Aging Population: the increasing number of individuals aged 60 and older is driving for demand for advanced rehabilitation and geriatric care solutions.

Neurological Disorders: a rise in conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injuries necessitates innovative neurorehabilitation devices.

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‍NovaKonexus™'s Position
By developing cutting-edge technologies in neurorehabilitation and geriatric care, NovaKonexus™ is strategically positioned to capture significant market share in these expanding industries.

IP PORTFOLIO:

NovaKonexus™ is built on a cutting-edge intellectual property (IP) foundation developed in collaboration with leading research institutions and healthcare innovators. A significant milestone in our IP strategy is the signed Term Sheet with  University Health Network (UHN), which formalizes the commercialization of relevant IP through NovaKonexus™. This agreement provides access to groundbreaking technologies rigorously tested and clinically validated within UHN’s world-class research ecosystem.

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Key Areas of IP 

‍1.     AI-Powered Exoskeleton Technologies

·      Innovations in adaptive robotics for neurorehabilitation and mobility restoration. 

·      Enhanced by AI algorithms for personalized therapy based on patient-specific needs.

 2.     Neurostimulation and Brain-Computer Interfaces

·      Patented systems fostering neuroplasticity and accelerating recovery.

·      Advanced integration of neural feedback for precise therapeutic interventions.

 3.     Digital Health Platform

·      IP related to telerehabilitation, remote monitoring, and real-time data analytics. 

·      Ensures continuity of care and accessibility for underserved populations.

 4.     Wearable Sensors

·      Innovations in real-time tracking of patient progress and vital signs.  

·      Integrated feedback loops for clinicians to refine treatment plans.

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NovaKonexus™’s exclusive licensing agreement with UHN positions the company to lead the commercialization of state-of-the-art rehabilitation technologies, creating a robust competitive advantage in the global healthcare market.

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CURRENT READINESS LEVEL

NovaKonexus™ is currently in the product development phase, with multiple technologies advancing towards clinical validation. Key innovations undergo rigorous design and pre-clinical testing to ensure safety, efficacy, and readiness for real-world applications.

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1.   Pre-ClinicalTrial Phase

 ·      AI-PoweredExoskeletons: Early prototypes will go into the pre-clinical testing phase early 2025, focusing on restoring mobility for patients with neurological impairments. This involves validating safety and functional performance in controlled environments.

·      Neurostimulation Devices and Brain-Computer Interfaces: Cutting-edge prototypes are being evaluated for their ability to foster neuroplasticity and accelerate recovery, ensuring robust results prior to clinical trials.

‍2.   Expected Clinical Trials

 ·      Once prototypes are finalized, clinical trials for NovaKonexus™’s flagship technologies are anticipated to begin in Q1/Q2 2025. These trials will be conducted in collaboration with leading institutions such as Michels Kliniken and UHN, ensuring the highest validation standards.

3. Digital Health Platforms

·      Supporting telerehabilitation tools, which integrate remote monitoring and adaptive care solutions to complement physical devices, are at an advanced development stage.

NovaKonexus™is progressing steadily towards clinical readiness, ensuring its innovative solutions are primed for impactful deployment in global healthcare settings.

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MANAGEMENT TEAM

Zen Koh, CEO*

Zen Koh is a distinguished figure in the field of rehabilitation technology, bringing over two decades of experience to his role as Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at UHN and incoming CEO of NovaKonexus™. He is renowned for co-founding Fourier Intelligence, where he serves as Global CEO, leading the company to prominence in developing advanced exoskeletons and rehabilitation robotics. Under his leadership, Fourier Intelligence secured approximately USD 100 million in Series C and D funding from prominent investors, including Saudi Aramco's Prosperity7 Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund.

Zen's career is marked by significant contributions to medical technology and rehabilitation services. He has held pivotal roles, such as Managing Director of Hocoma's Asia Pacific Hub, where he was instrumental in expanding the market for advanced rehabilitation robotics.

In recognition of his impact on the MedTech industry, Zen was named among the"40 under 40 Future Most Influential Industry Leaders in MedTech by MD+DI in 2012.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Zen is the Founder and Executive Director of MotusAcademy, a Swiss-based association dedicated to advancing education in robotics and healthcare technologies.

He also serves as the President and Ambassador of the International Industry Society of Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART), reflecting his commitment to global collaboration in the field.

Zen's academic background includes a Master of Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from the University of Strathclyde.

His extensive experience and visionary leadership uniquely position him to steer NovaKonexus™ toward achieving its mission of transforming global healthcare through innovative rehabilitation technologies.

Derived from: 

Source: https://2023.rehabweek.org/assets/2022-23_Zen-KOH_Biography.pdf)

Source: https://www.dellaleaders.com/profile/zen-koh/

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‍SCIENTIFIC FOUNDER(S)/INVENTOR(S):

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Dr. Milos R. Popovic is a leading neurorehabilitation and functional electrical stimulation (FES) expert. He is Director of The KITE Research Institute at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network (UHN) as well as Director and Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto.

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Professor Popovic earned his Dipl. Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Belgrade in 1990. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto, completing it in 1996.

In 2001, he established the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, focusing on developing advanced neuroprostheses and rehabilitation technologies. His pioneering work in FES has significantly advanced treatments for stroke and spinal cord injury patients, enhancing their motor functions and quality of life.

Dr. Popovic co-founded MyndTec, a medical technology company specializing in FES therapies for paralysis resulting from stroke and spinal cord injuries. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the Centre for Research in Advanced Neural Implant Applications (CRANIA) at UHN and the University of Toronto, promoting innovation in neurotechnologies.

Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including the Engineering Medal for Research and Development from the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 2008 and the Jonas Salk Award from March of Dimes Canada in 2018.

Dr. Popovic's extensive research has been widely published, with a significant number of citations reflecting his impact on the field.

His dedication to advancing neurorehabilitation continues to influence both academic research and clinical practice globally.

Source: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/milos-popovic

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SaluTech is developing a Conductive Biomaterial (CBM) to treat Atrial Fibrillation by resynchronizing the electrical propagation in the heart. CBM is a non-toxic, long-lasting, and biocompatible nano-membrane that mimics the conductive velocity of healthy heart tissue – addressing the underlying conduction issues to improve the synchronization of heart cell electrical and mechanical activity. The technology is patent protected and supported by 11 published papers. Extensive pre-clinical studies show significant reduction in cardiac arrhythmia, improved heart function, and safety for up to 12 months. SaluTech is currently completing animal studies, and looking to move forward to start clinical trials.

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‍UNMET NEED/COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is irregular atrial tissue contraction, in which patients have a 5-fold increased risk for stroke, 3-fold increased risk for heart failure, and 2-fold increased risk for dementia. Over 33 million people globally suffer from AF, and this number is growing by over 5% annually due to an aging population. In Canada, a study from 2007-2008 found that AF was already creating a substantial economic burden to the healthcare system, costing over $800 million in just hospital costs. The death rate associated with AF as the primary contributing factor has continued to rise for over two decades.

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‍INNOVATION

‍SaluTech's conductive biomaterial is the only AF treatment focused on addressing the underlying conduction issues within the heart and restoring a healthy heart beat. This provides a highly effective long-term solution, without further damaging the heart or causing side-effects.

 For more information: https://www.salutechlimited.com/

SaluTech has developed a novel conductive biomaterial (CBM) to treat patients living with AF by addressing the underlying electrophysiological cause. The CBM consists of a conductive polymer, combined with a biomaterial to allow for a biocompatible and long-lasting membrane that can be easily used in the human body.  

 THE CBM is a platform technology that can also be used for treating other key cardiovascular issues including ventricular tachycardia led heart failure, improving implantable devices, and replacing synthetic surgical materials.

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‍APPLICATION/UTILITIES

SaluTech has developed a novel conductive biomaterial (CBM) to treat patients living with AF by addressing the underlying electrophysiological cause. The CBM consists of a conductive polymer, combined with a biomaterial to allow for a biocompatible and long-lasting membrane that can be easily used in the human body.  

 THE CBM is a platform technology that can also be used for treating other key cardiovascular issues including ventricular tachycardia led heart failure, improving implantable devices, and replacing synthetic surgical materials.

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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES: 

US$5M Seed round to:

(1) Complete biocompatibility testing and GLP large animal testing

(2) Develop prototypes for minimally-invasive delivery device

(3) Hire experienced team and grow clinical advisory group

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COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE:

-         Bio-Conductivity– capable of synchronizing myocardial conduction by matching the conductive velocity of myocardial tissue

-         Bio-Compatibility- patented technique to conjugate conductive polymers onto biomaterial creates a conductive, yet biocompatible material

-         Flexibility in shape - flexible membrane that allow for proper attachment onto atrial tissue. The flexibility supports future commercial use through a minimally-invasive delivery procedure

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MARKET SIZE:

The global AF device market is $4.1 billion  (2018); it is growing rapidly at a CAGR of 13.6%, and is estimated to be $7.8  billion in 2023

PATENT PORTFOLIO:

Two patents for matter composition and application of use:

 Patent 1: Conductive Biomaterial for Enhancement of Conduction in vitro and in vivo

 Patent 2: Conductive Benzoic Acid-based Polymer Containing Biomaterial for Enhancement of Tissue Conduction invitro and in vivo

 Additional patents are planned for the next generation of the technology, as well as patents related to development of a minimally-invasive delivery device.

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READINESS LEVEL:

After completing a Pre-Submission meeting with the FDA, we have confirmed all the remaining testing that we need to complete before starting clinical trials and ensure completion is in line with regulatory expectations.

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MANAGEMENT TEAM:

Shuhe Li, JD/MBA (CEO)

Shuhe Li previously worked at the Bank of Montreal Capital Markets as an Investment Banking Associate in the North American Financial Institutions Group. She covered international companies, and worked on buy- and sell-side mandates, debt and equity issuances, and shareholder activism defense.

Shuhe co-founded the company, and has led business development through the license negotiation, fundraising of pre-seed round, and management of the patent and

regulatory process.

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INVENTOR(s) /SCIENTIFIC FOUNDER(s):

Ren-Ke Li, MD/PhD/FCAHS (CSO)

Dr. Ren-Ke Li is the inventor of SaluTech’s conductive biomaterial. Dr. Li is a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network and a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Toronto. He is the Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Regeneration(Tier 1), was a Career Investigator of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and has published 276 peer-reviewed papers in reputable journals. He is Editor-in-Chief of Stem Cells International Journal and Fellow of Canadian Academy of Health Science since 2011.

Nearly half of all patients receiving treatment for cancer will receive radiation treatment. The radiation treatment process takes clinicians hours, sometimes days, to complete. Curait Medical has a patent-protected platform providing automated, quantitative quality review enabling the radiation team to make more informed clinical decisions for each radiation treatment with reduced costs, increased quality, higher patient throughput, and fewer treatment errors. Curait's medical platform is Software as a Service (SaaS) based, enabling users access to machine learning of clinical practice and the ability to build models based on their clinical expertise. In addition, the platform facilitates more objective and consistent clinical practices across cancer centers, making it a valuable tool for healthcare managers.

‍UNMET NEED

There is a significant shortage of clinically trained experts in radiation oncology able to deliver radiation treatment to cancer  patients. In short, we will not be able to train enough professionals to meet  the increasing clinical demands associated with treatment delivery.

The radiation treatment process requires tremendous clinical expertise, is highly time consuming and expensive. Radiation treatments are planned (i.e. simulated) using specialized software and are subject to rigorous review by the entire radiation treatment team, before any radiation is approved and delivered to the patient. The radiation treatment plan is customized for each patient and specifies how the radiation treatment machine will deliver the radiation, and the radiation expected to reach the targeted tumour and any healthy organs.

RT treatment planning involves collaborating with a multidisciplinary team through repeated touchpoints. Curait’s patented SaaS uses machine learning to aid the team in evaluating and reviewing thousands of characteristics for each treatment plan in minutes. Whereas the total treatment planning process can take many hours to days to complete, with Curait, that time can be reduced by 30%, typically saving 3-6 hours per patient. This is because the Curait platform is designed to perform on-demand consultation, helping technicians complete treatment plans quickly, as well as expedite the mandatory treatment plan reviews for medical physicists and radiation oncologists. Curait’s SaaS improves workflow and eliminates expensive process bottlenecks resulting from handoffs within the radiation treatment team, thereby helping patients get their treatment faster.

The platform is vendor-agnostic, scalable, and can readily be integrated into the clinical workflow of any cancer center. It increases both the quality of and access to radiation treatment, while  providing immediate savings. The increased capacity realized using the Curait platform will positively impact revenues.

‍INNOVATION

Curait’s SaaS learns the characteristics of high quality treatment plans to build machine learning “models”.  It has been developed based on a comprehensive database from one of the world’s top 5 cancer centres,the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Curait’s SaaS also connects the radiation treatment team to a constantly expanding database of models.

Curait’s SaaS creates a personalized approach for reviewing each patient’s care by drawing on thousands of relevant historical cases and it can automatically access the most applicable patient data without relying on hard-coded metrics being entered by the user, as is common practice.

Curait also provides the team with understandable reasoning behind the evaluation of each component of the radiation treatment plan to aid in both identifying specific issues/errors, saving the radiation oncologist from having to complete multiple intermediary reviews, and in providing direct insights for making necessary adjustments to improve the radiation treatment plan quality.

For more information: https://curaitmedical.com/

‍APPLICATION/UTILITIES

‍Curait’s QA solution is applicable to all cancer patients requiring radiation treatment.  The technology can be easily integrated into any healthcare application that leverages a treatment plan.

‍INVESTMENT & OBJECTIVES

‍Investment Raise: $2 Million

Investment would be targeted to:

·  Product Development (45%) 

·  Sales-Marketing Commercialization (30%)

·  General Administration (25%)

‍COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Granted US patent; AI training using patient datasets from one of the world’s top 5 cancer centres; automatically learned clinical practice metrics.

‍MARKET SIZE
RT addressable market:  >US$500M

‍IP PORTFOLIO
The company's IP portfolio includes a patent pending for  automated quality assurance in radiation therapy: USpatent no. 11,735,309 B2 “Method and system for automated quality assurance in radiation therapy,” granted: Aug 22, 2023

‍CURRENT MANAGEMENT TEAM
Curait's management team is experienced and has a track record of successfully navigating early-stage companies to commercial success.

‍CURRENT READINESS LEVEL

‍Curait’s platform contains the following products:

Audit LITE, available for purchase worldwide.

Audit, available for purchase worldwide.

On-Demand, will be available for purchase in 2025 uponcompletion of FDA 510K regulatory approval.

Note: a non-AI version of Audit and On-Demand is  being used clinically (>9,000 patients) – the products are not fully commercial ready, but functional.

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‍‍SCIENTIFIC FOUNDER(S)
Dr. Thomas Purdie, Medical Physicist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Associate Professor, University of Toronto.

Dr. Purdie is a staff medical physicist/clinician scientist and is the recipient of academic awards from NSERC and CIHR. Dr. Purdie’s research lab focuses on developing and deploying machine learning algorithms and methods for automating clinical radiation oncology workflow processes, including radiation treatment planning, quality assurance, and decision support.

‍Dr. Chris McIntosh, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute

Dr. McIntosh is the recipient of academic awards from NSERC, CIHR, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. His lab is focused on the theory and clinical application of AI in medicine for improving patient care including transfer learning, meta learning, computer vision, and explainable AI. Applications include deep learning for automated diagnosis, segmentation, quality assurance, and treatment planning.

Porphysomes are a platform technology based on lipid molecules that form porphysome nanoparticles, with versatile applications including cancer imaging, phototherapy, and drug delivery. Porphysome nanoparticles have the unique ability to be loaded with drugs, such as chemotherapeutics or immunotherapy agents, and have properties that make them ideal for both targeted photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photo-immune stimulation. Porphysomes are also capable of fluorescence, which enables more precise, targetted tumor treatment.They also selectively accumulate in cancer tissue and release photoenergy when a specific laser light is directed at the tumor, which means they can selectively ablate malignant tissue. Additionally, porphysomes can be modified with heavy metals to facilitate PET imaging.

‍UNMET NEED/COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
‍The FDA approved the only photosensitizer agent available in the US for internal solid tumors in 1995.  While this agent has been proven to be effective in both early and late-stage cancers, the major limitations are severe skin photosensitivity that can last >30 days and the inability to fluoresce cancer cells. Porphysomes represent an advanced generation of photosensitizers with minimal expected side effects and additional capabilities, such as enhanced tumor detection and visualization via fluorescence.  

‍INNOVATION
Porphysomes are a patented porphyrin-lipid technology. The porphyrin component of a porphysome delivers the photosensitizing property while the lipid component provides additional functional capabilities. These multi-functional characteristics provide the opportunity to design agents for a variety of applications.

‍APPLICATION/UTILITIES
The initial target application for porphysomes is peripheral lung cancer, which is defined as tumors that reside in the outer 1/3 of the lung. The development pipeline also includes oropharyngeal cancer, pancreatic cancer and skin cancer.

‍INVESTMENT & OBJECTIVES
$10-15M USD, for the purpose of: 

-        GMP manufacturing of clinical drug product       

-        Initiation of first-in-human phase-I studies in peripheral lung cancer

‍MARKET SIZE
Estimated market value of porphysomes in peripheral lung cancer is $1 Billion USD. CAGRis estimated at 3-5%.

IP PORTFOLIO
Three patents cover the composition of porphysomes, usage in photothermal therapies and photoacoustic imaging as well as different porphysomes with alternative lipid conjugates. Several patent filings are in progress covering porphysome modifications that enhance uptake into cancer cells and enhance ability to carry chemotherapeutic agents (e.g.paclitaxel), as well as patents focused on proprietary potency testing device sand methods.

‍CURRENT READINESS LEVEL
‍Regulatory IND/CTA filings followed by the initiation of first in human trials

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MANAGEMENT TEAM
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Glenn Kutschera, CEO 

Glenn is an experienced industry executive with recent experience as president of a U.S. photodynamic therapy company.

Paul Sieroslawski, CFO/COO

Paul has 12 years of experience working as a finance and operations executive in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, most recently at a photodynamic focused company.

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Dr. Gang Zheng - Senior Scientist and Associate Research Director, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre & Scientific Co-Founder

Porphysomes are based on ground-breaking research by Dr. Gang Zheng, a world-renowned expert in nanomedicine and Associate Research Director at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Named contributor to the “top 10 cancer breakthroughs of 2011” by the Canadian Cancer Society for his work on harnessing porphysome nanotechnology in the fight against cancer, Dr. Zheng’s nanotechnology platform is the foundation for this new venture. For more information: http://zhenglab.utoronto.ca/

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Dr. Brian Wilson - Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Center; Professor, University of Toronto

Dr. Wilson's work lies in the development and commercialization of novel technologies and methods that can be translated to cancer patients and that are based on light and nanoparticles. The applications include cancer detection/diagnosis (using different forms of optical spectroscopy and imaging), cancer treatment (using light-activated drugs), and image-guided cancer interventions (surgery guided by fluorescence imaging).

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Dr. Michael Valic, Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Doxorubicin is effectively used to treat various cancers despite a significant risk of cardiotoxicity associated with treatment usage.  In an attempt to manage cardiotoxicity risk, there is a lifetime dosage limit.  With each dose, the risk of cardiac dysfunction increases.  Despite the attempt to manage cardiotoxicity risk up to about one third of patients experience cardiac dysfunction and many go on to develop heart failure. Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant that was first approved by the US FDA in1974.  Its primary use is treatment of malignant hyperthermia, an anesthesia emergency.  Research at UHN has shown that dantrolene is protective of the myocardium when used as a pre-treatment for doxorubicin. Dantrolene administration thus has significant potential to increase or remove the lifetime dosage limit for patients and protect the heart, preventing cardiac dysfunction and eventual chemotherapy induced heart failure.

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‍UNMET NEED
Doxorubicin is commonly used to treat breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. It is also a second line drug in many additional cancers.  About one third of all doxorubicin is used in breast cancer, making it the greatest use of the drug.  Breast cancer is often first diagnosed at a relatively young age.  Surviving breast cancer only to go on to develop cardiac dysfunction adds tragedy to a difficult situation.  Reducing or eliminating the risk of cardiac dysfunction can add many years and quality of life for cancer survivors.

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INNOVATION
Dantrolene is traditionally used for the acute treatment of malignant hyperthermia.  It also finds some niche applications managing other symptoms that malignant hyperthermia patients can experience.  Research at UHN has demonstrated that dantrolene can prevent the damage to the heart caused by doxorubicin.  Literature demonstrates that use of dantrolene does not impact the efficacy of cancer treatments. Further, dantrolene has applications in ventricular arrhythmias.

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APPLICATION/UTILITIES
·        Prophylaxis of chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity

·        Acute treatment of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)

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‍INVESTMENT & OBJECTIVES
$5M - $15M required to conduct: 

·        Phase I pharmacokinetics of reformulated Dantrolene in a UHN Clinic. 

·        Phase I/II dose escalation study in the target disease (breast cancer) sample

·        Phase I/II study of dantrolene on patients suffering from idiopathic PVCs.

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COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
To date, one drug has been approved for the mitigation of cardiac dysfunction associated with doxorubicin.  It is marginally effective and as a result experiences minimal sales. Many other drugs including beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and statins, have been tested to reduce cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin. None have shown sufficient activity to warrant further development.  

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‍MARKET SIZE
In the US, nearly 300,000 patients are diagnosed annually with breast cancer.  Two thirds of them are eligible for chemotherapy and but half choose to undergo the treatment.  This results in about 90,000 addressable patients annually in the US.  Doxorubicin currently sells US$1.3B annually and its use is increasing despite substantial risk of cardiotoxicity. The success of an abatement for cardiotoxicity as well as potentially selling as much as doxorubicin may increase the demand for doxorubicin-based chemotherapy.

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IP PORTFOLIO
Two patent families, including issued patents in EU and US, covering multiple applications of the technology.

‍CURRENT READINESS LEVEL
Pre-clinical technology, requires demonstration in clinical trial. 

EIR
Nigel deGruyther

Nigel deGruyther is a pharmacist and entrepreneur with experience in drug repositioning efforts and venture capital and the former Head of Business Development at Cynapsus Therapeutics.

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‍SCIENTIFIC FOUNDER(S)
Dr. Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar is a clinical cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist at UHN and a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, with a focus in cardiac arrhythmia modulation and stabilization of RyR2. He is also Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.