Gemelli Biotech and AMG Partner to Expand ibs-smart, a Second-Generation ELISA Blood Test for Accurate Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat official account: vcbeat) learned that Gemelli Biotech has announced a partnership with Advanced Medical German Co. (AMG). Through this collaboration, AMG will promote the IBS diagnostic test technology ibs-smart in countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. It is reported that after spring 2019, the product will also be launched across the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market.

IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, presents with the most common symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, gastric spasms, diarrhea, and constipation. Data indicates that 10–15% of the global population suffers from IBS. However, when these symptoms occur, individuals often do not recognize them as indicative of a disease; instead, they typically attribute them to adverse reactions caused by endocrine disorders. Nevertheless, research demonstrates that IBS is not a psychological disorder but a genuine medical condition.

IBS-SMART is a diagnostic technology specifically designed for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This technique measures the levels of antibodies (anti-CdtB and anti-vinculin) in patients by extracting their blood samples. If the test confirms elevated levels of both antibodies, the probability of having IBS is as high as 98%.

As a second-generation ELISA blood testing technology, ibs-smart not only helps physicians definitively diagnose whether a patient has mixed-type IBS or diarrhea-predominant IBS, but also reduces the time required for diagnostic evaluation. Dr. Eyad Al Saleh, President and CEO of AMG, stated, “The Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries previously published survey data indicating that the prevalence of IBS in the Arab region is as high as 31%. If this technology is fully scaled up for production, it will generate substantial cost savings for both hospitals and patients.”

“Every day, patients from around the world contact us to request testing,” said Matt Mitcho, CEO of Gemelli Biotech. “Mexico and South Korea have also joined the ongoing pivotal biomarker study for IBS. The ibs-smart test is poised to become a pioneer in the diagnosis of IBS.”

Gemelli Biotech is a biotechnology company based in Los Angeles, USA, dedicated to researching novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches targeting the microbiome, in close collaboration with Cedars-Sinai, which has been ranked among the top ten hospitals in the United States. The company launched its irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnostic technology, ibs-smart, at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting in October 2018.

Advanced Medical German Co. is a German company specializing in medical products and services, dedicated to improving healthcare delivery. Its core business areas include life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical devices. The company maintains an office in Kuwait.