Health tech startup Aqsens Health operates in Werstas Labs, a facility for biotech companies, where it has two laboratories and three offices. The company's laboratory premises are used to develop tests for the early detection of serious diseases. How did it all begin?
Roots in the university world
Like many other biotech startups, Aqsens Health also has its roots in the university world. Pekka Hänninen, Dean at the University of Turku, invented an extension to the TRF technology developed in the Turku region, which became known as the Enhanced TRF method. Current CEO Timo Teimonen and Hänninen founded Aqsens Health based on this research. The company started its operations in 2017, which is when the biosensors currently at the core of the company's research were introduced. Both founders are still actively involved in the company: Hänninen currently serves as a board member and Teimonen as CEO.
Aqsens Health develops tests for hard-to-detect diseases, as well as diseases where early diagnosis is most beneficial. It is noteworthy that these tests do not use blood, but saliva or urine.
The company's core team works at Werstas Labs, and they also have operations in Helsinki. The company recently received reinforcements from Ghana, when a researcher was hired from a local medical research institute to work on malaria research in Turku.
Aqsens Health’s operations are focused on two main branches: infectious diseases and cancer. The focus is on malaria research as well as prostate and bladder cancer. How did the company end up researching malaria specifically, CEO Timo Teimonen?
“One key factor in managing malaria would be its easy and early-stage diagnosis: this is what we want to promote in the form of an easy-to-use saliva-based test.”
– It is globally one of the most difficult infections. It is widespread, with a focus in Africa, and a huge amount of resources are spent on its elimination. One key factor in managing malaria would be its easy and early-stage diagnosis: this is what we want to promote in the form of an easy-to-use saliva-based test.
The Noguchi Institute, affiliated with the University of Ghana, specializes in malaria research, which Aqsens Health became interested in through mutual contacts.
– We thought that collaborating with a research institute specializing in lethal infectious diseases and their researchers could help us get started. A suitable partner was found, and the project was launched smoothly. Samples arrive in Finland quickly, and the cooperation continues. Now it is great that we also received a dedicated researcher here on-site, Teimonen says gratefully.
Synergy and encounters in the Science Park
The Science Park area is the center of the biotech industry in Turku and thus a natural base for Aqsens as well. A good example of the cooperation between the area's actors is the newly started collaboration between Aqsens Health, TYKS (Turku University Hospital), and Auria Biobank on bladder cancer research. The goal of the research cooperation is to verify how the biosensors developed by Aqsens can be used to detect cancer and monitor treatment.
– Bladder cancer follow-up studies, including endoscopies, are quite expensive and also uncomfortable for patients. If there were a urine-based screening method available alongside endoscopies, reducing their number by, for example, half would free up more resources elsewhere. In addition, a urine-based test would be more comfortable for patients, says Aqsens Health's Laboratory Manager Vilhelmiina Juusti.
At Aqsens Health, the collaborative research projects will begin in the autumn with the first sample analyses.
– When we collect samples from TYKS, we don’t have to think about logistics; we just walk to collect them. Other practical matters are also easily handled from PharmaCity: it is easy for our foreign guests to arrive by train from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Kupittaa station and stay overnight in a nearby hotel.
In addition to cooperation between local actors, you can get to know people more informally at joint events.
– Our staff have participated in Joki community morning coffees and Joki Forum events. Sometimes it is nice to start the morning a little more specially and meet others working in the Science Park, says Laboratory Manager Vilhelmiina Juusti.