Owlstone Medical

Owlstone Medical is a company that has developed a groundbreaking technology called Breath Biopsy. This technology allows for the non-invasive diagnosis of various diseases, including cancer, asthma, tuberculosis, and respiratory diseases, through the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a person's breath. The company's patented FAIMS (Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry) technology enables rapid monitoring of these biomarkers from breath samples.

The Breath Biopsy kit consists of the award-winning ReCIVA Breath Sampler, which ensures reliable collection of breath samples. These samples are then analyzed using state-of-the-art chemical analysis techniques to detect disease-specific biomarkers. Owlstone Medical aims to develop tools based on its FAIMS technology to detect validated biomarkers of disease, potentially enabling early diagnosis when treatments are more effective and more lives can be saved.

In addition to its core Breath Biopsy technology, Owlstone Medical has also launched OMED Health, an at-home breath testing service that aims to pinpoint digestive health problems and provide guidance for individuals suffering from conditions like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

Owlstone Medical was founded as a spin-out from the University of Cambridge in 2004, with the medical division formed as a separate company in 2015. The company has since grown rapidly, with its diverse team of engineers, chemists, biologists, and support staff primarily based at its headquarters on the Cambridge Science Park in the UK, as well as in the US. In October 2018, Owlstone Medical raised USD 35 million as part of a larger USD 50 million funding round, led by Horizons Ventures and strategic investors like Ventura Capital and Foxconn Technologies Group.