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Easing Diabetic Discomfort through Saliva Glucose Monitoring

Contact Information

Steve Lerner

Alpha Szenszor Inc.

67 South Bedford Street

Suite 400W

Burlington, MA 01803

steve@alphaszenszor.com

+1-978-371-7084

http://www.alphaszenszor.com

 VIEW PRESENTATION

ASI Diabetes Intro3-15

Alpha Szenszor Inc. (ASI) is a Delaware C Corp. currently based in the greater Boston, MA area. Following a 1 M USD strategic investment in 2011, the Company has industrialized a proprietary nanometric sensor technology with single ppb sensitivity and a high degree of selectivity.

The short value proposition for this investment application is a bloodless Glucose monitor. There are an estimated 300 million persons world-wide with Diabetes type 2. Each of these patients should be monitoring their glucose level 3 – 4 times daily, but many bypass this invasive test due to the pain and inconvenience of finger pricking for a blood sample. Alpha Szenszor’s technology enables an easier, non-invasive type of glucose measurement, through saliva sampling.

The technology is based on highly sensitive carbon nanotube (CNT) sensors, compatible with standard manufacturing processes available around the world. Typical saliva glucose levels are in the range of 0.008 mM to 0.21 mM, much lower than blood glucose levels that range from 2 – 30 mM. Until recently, most tests reported have utilized highly sophisticated spectrophotometry to determine glucose concentrations. An additional challenge in highly sensitive glucose detection is the fact that it is a small, weakly charged molecule. Carbon nanotubes offer a distinct advantage here due to their ultra-sensitivity and low cost of manufacturing. This CNT technology, which is at the heart of the Company’s sensor device, has been licensed exclusively from Nantero, a Harvard University spin out. Through said license, ASI has attained rights to one of the most powerful (>200 patents and applications) CNT patent portfolios in the world, as ranked by both IEEE and The Wall Street Journal, and has introduced Applications level IP as well.

The Company has also been invited to participate in one of the largest Diabetes Studies in the world, The Maastricht Study. Following an estimated 9 – 12 month commercialization period, the Company plans to enroll in clinical trials, with the objective of qualifying the product for market entry in less than 2 years. As little as 2% market penetration in only OECD countries would represent over 300 million USD in revenue at 40% GPM.

Market Strategy

The Company plans to offer a complete test kit in the form of a handheld glucometer, connected via app to common electronic appliances (phone. Tablet, PC, ect.), as well as the consumable saliva based test trips. Sales and distribution will be carried out through established 3rd parties already established in the market place.

Funding Objectives

The Company is seeking a series A equity investment of 3 M USD. This series A will cover normal operating expenses for the commercialization of the product, namely a Diabetes type 2 glucose monitoring kit and subsequent clinical trials. ASI plans to be cash flow positive by year 3, promoting at least one approved device embodiment, with a variety of possibilities for further product releases.

Review

Trends in Nanomaterial-Based Non-Invasive Diabetes Sensing Technologies

Diagnostics 2014, 4, 27-46; doi:10.3390/diagnostics4020027

ISSN 2075-4418

www.mdpi.com/journal/diagnostics/

Abstract:

Blood glucose monitoring is considered the gold standard for diabetes diagnostics and self-monitoring. However, the underlying process is invasive and highly uncomfortable for patients. Furthermore, the process must be completed several times a day to successfully manage the disease, which greatly contributes to the massive need for non-invasive monitoring options. Human serums, such as saliva, sweat, breath, urine and tears, contain traces of glucose and are easily accessible. Therefore, they allow minimal to non-invasive glucose monitoring, making them attractive alternatives to blood measurements. Numerous developments regarding noninvasive glucose detection techniques have taken place over the years, but recently, they have gained recognition as viable alternatives, due to the advent of nanotechnology-based sensors. Such sensors are optimal for testing the amount of glucose in serums other than blood thanks to their enhanced sensitivity and selectivity ranges, in addition to their size and compatibility with electronic circuitry.

These nanotechnology approaches are rapidly evolving, and new techniques are constantly emerging. Hence, this manuscript aims to review current and future nanomaterial-based technologies utilizing saliva, sweat, breath and tears as a diagnostic medium for diabetes monitoring.

SOURCE

Diagnostics 2014, 4, 27-46; doi:10.3390/diagnostics4020027