Thinkari Bio Submits IPO Prospectus: Empowering Rapid Diagnostics with Microfluidic-Based Fluorescent Flow Cytometry POCT Platform

From the initial proposal of the concept of Micro Total Analysis Systems (μTAS) by Manz et al. at Ciba-Geigy in Switzerland in 1990, to Forbes magazine naming microfluidics one of the 15 most important inventions shaping humanity’s future in 2003, the application boundaries of microfluidic technology have continuously expanded and evolved, demonstrating significant potential across numerous fields including biology, chemistry, and medicine.

As is well known, approximately 80% of clinical diagnostic information is derived from in vitro diagnostics (IVD), which accounts for less than 20% of total medical costs, serving as a critical basis for physicians' decision-making. In recent years, microfluidics, the most cutting-edge technology in the IVD field, has been increasingly adopted by R&D professionals across various niche segments of the IVD industry.

According toDou Jiahua, Founder of ThinKariIntroduction: Microfluidic systems are characterized by high performance, compact size, and portability. Leveraging microfluidic technology, these systems enable the integration of multifunctional units and automation of operations required for complex analyses on microfluidic chips. This approach minimizes the risk of operational errors associated with intricate analytical workflows and reduces the reliance on operators’ specialized expertise and experience-based proficiency, thereby bringing diagnostic capabilities traditionally confined to central laboratories directly to patients or end-users.

In addition, microfluidic platforms offer rapid analysis, low consumption of samples and reagents, and ease of integration and automated analysis. These characteristics align closely with the development of point-of-care testing (POCT), making microfluidics an increasingly core technology for building POCT systems.

ThinKari(hereinafter referred to as: ThinKari Bio) is a flow cytometry-based platform enterprise, specializing in full-industry-chain diagnostics for flow cytometry application platforms and reagents, possessingPOCT flow cytometry systems based on microfluidic chips, and benchtop flow cytometry systems primarily utilizing optical fiber and micro-nano technologies.The POCT flow cytometry analysis system is compact and portable, achieving true handheld operation to meet the needs of diverse end-users in clinical settings.

Jiahua Dou, founder of ThinKari, holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto, Canada, and has over 17 years of R&D experience in micro/nano fabrication, integrated photonics, and microfluidic devices.

In 2003, microfluidics technology was named by Forbes magazine as one of the 15 most important inventions shaping the future of humanity. This coincided with Dr. Dou Jiahua’s academic years, a period when the international environment strongly encouraged researchers to pursue commercialization. Through extensive interactions with clients, clinicians, and researchers, Dr. Dou gradually formulated the concept of developing a microfluidic biochip detection platform.

Dou Jiahua stated that the principle of microfluidic biochips is similar to that of electronic chips, functioning as a miniature biochemical laboratory,Integrating basic operational units such as biological sample preparation, reaction, separation, and detection onto a chip engraved with microstructures enables the automatic completion of the entire analytical process.Due to its compact size, minimal consumption of samples and reagents, rapid reaction speed, capacity for high-throughput parallel processing, and disposable nature, microfluidics holds broad application prospects in the fields of life sciences and diagnostics.

Building on this, Dou Jiahua and Dr. Chen Lu, also at the University of Toronto, co-founded ChipCare, a Canadian high-tech medical company. They successfully developed a handheld point-of-care testing (POCT) system for CD4+ T-lymphocyte counting based on microfluidic chips, which was ranked first in the “Canadian Innovation Competition” by Canadian Business Magazine.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Peking University, Chen Lu pursued advanced studies in Canada. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. Formerly the Director of Product R&D at ChipCare, he was a core developer of the company’s testing platform and brings over 15 years of experience in innovative research, product development, and management in the field of point-of-care diagnostics.

After accumulating experience in technology development and commercialization, the two founders recognized that the application scenarios for their existing products were relatively limited. To bring their technology to a broader market, they decided to pivot by focusing on the domestic market and building a more comprehensive platform.

In 2017, Dou Jiahua and Chen Lu founded ThinKari in Shenzhen and assembled a core team with international backgrounds. The team members are senior product, R&D, and sales experts from IVD companies such as Luminex, Hitachi, Mindray, and BGI, bringing international expertise and extensive industry experience.

In Dou Jiahua’s view, the traditional in vitro diagnostics market suffers from numerous pain points. First, there is a strain on medical resources, as patients flock to tertiary hospitals for care when they fall ill, leading to significant inconvenience and waste of medical resources. ThereforeEnhancing the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of primary healthcare institutions is crucial.Second, traditional testing methods require large volumes of blood samples, inevitably leading to sample wastage during the testing process. For patients, especially infants and young children,Reducing the volume of blood drawn is also a significant benefit that cannot be overlooked.. In addition, in the diagnosis and treatment of many infectious diseases and acute illnesses, it is also veryDistributed testing products capable of delivering rapid results are needed.

“The market demands more decentralized testing devices and products that can meet diverse clinical application scenarios, enabling patients to complete tests more conveniently at locations closer to home—such as community health centers and pharmacies—without needing to visit large hospitals,” said Dou Jiahua.

Based on this, the original intention behind the founding of ThinKari is toLowering the Barrier to Detection, enabling people to more conveniently and rapidly access precise, effective, and high-quality diagnostic tests, and providing clinicians with useful test data.

ThinKari has developed a handheld POCT flow cytometry analysis system based on microfluidic chips, truly achieving portability to meet the needs of various clinical end-users. Its advantages lie in, first,The instrument is easy to operate and portable., requiring no complex operations or data analysis to generate test reports; second, it is precise,A single drop of blood (<15 μL) is sufficient to accurately measure test results.; third, it is fast,Test results available in 10–20 minutes.; Fourth,Low cost, the instruments and consumables significantly reduce costs compared to traditional detection methods.

Through accumulated expertise from prior R&D and professional experience, ThinKari has developed an integrated POCT testing platform centered on microfluidics and flow fluorescence. The platform featuresMulti-Analyte Joint Testing Capability, which can improve detection efficiency and reduce the cost per test. It covers testing and analysis of various markers ranging from cells and proteins to nucleic acids, enabling a wide range of precise clinical tests to meet the demands of both clinical and research markets. Additionally, itDeveloped a variety of high-quality diagnostic reagent products tailored to clinical needs, ensuring the accuracy and stability of clinical testing.

“Technology and products are our strengths. We will continuously update and iterate to enhance platform performance, develop new testing items, and launch new products. The test menu available for users will continue to expand, and application scenarios will become increasingly diverse,” said Dou Jiahua.

Zhang Linzhen, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at ThinKariIt stated: “Multiplex testing is the direction of IVD development, and cell therapy and diagnostics will be the key focus for new drug R&D enterprises in the coming period. The annual revenue growth rate of testing items is expected to exceed 30% in the next five years, with a very broad market prospect.”

Since its inception, ThinKari has been dedicated to developing integrated microfluidic POCT systems driven by clinical and market demands, primarily targeting patients with chronic diseases requiring routine monitoring, as well as those with stringent requirements for testing time and setting.

Dou Jiahua believes that the demands of these two groups are substantial both domestically and internationally. In the future, ThinKari aims to start from the Chinese market, gradually expand into Southeast Asia, and establish a presence in Europe and the Americas, striving to become an influential global high-tech medical enterprise in the field of microfluidic POCT technology.