Building a blood-testing startup in 2023 with Vital CEO Vasu Nadella | E1801 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Vital Biosciences is developing a compact blood testing system that provides quick and accurate diagnostics, enabling patients to take control of their health and revolutionizing healthcare delivery.

Key Insights

• 🥼 Vital Biosciences aims to provide accessible and efficient lab testing through their compact blood testing system.
• 🥳 The company emphasizes the importance of placing complexity in the right parts of the system to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• 🤩 Platform approaches and the integration of new technologies are key strategies for Vital Biosciences' future development.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main goal of Vital Biosciences?

The main goal of Vital Biosciences is to make lab testing more accessible and efficient, enabling patients to have quick and accurate diagnostics that empower them to take control of their health.

Q: How does the compact blood testing system work?

The system utilizes microfluidic technology and disposable components. A small sample of blood is loaded into discs, which are designed for different types of tests. The system runs the tests in parallel, providing results in just 20 minutes.

Q: What makes Vital Biosciences different from other companies in the space?

Vital Biosciences has focused on placing complexity in the right parts of the system to ensure accuracy and reliability. The company also emphasizes platform approaches, enabling faster development of new tests and technologies.

Q: What are the potential applications of Vital Biosciences' technology?

The technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery by enabling more frequent and accessible diagnostics. It could also support the development of personalized medicine and the integration of AI-driven systems for improved care.

Summary

In this video, the founder of vital biosciences, Vasu Nadella, discusses his company's revolutionary blood testing technology and its potential to transform healthcare. He explains the challenges of the current healthcare system and how vital biosciences aims to make care more accessible and efficient.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Vasu Nadella become interested in blood testing?

Nadella shares that he has always been fascinated by companies working in the blood testing space due to personal experiences with chronic disease in his family. He witnessed the challenges of waiting for test results and the lack of accessibility in the current system. This drove his passion for building a company that could improve healthcare delivery.

Q: How does vital biosciences differentiate itself from other blood testing companies?

Nadella emphasizes that vital biosciences sees itself as a care delivery startup rather than just a blood testing company. They aim to build devices that make care more accessible and empowering. Their technology enables faster and more efficient testing, allowing physicians to run procedures and bill for them. They also focus on placing complexity in the right parts of their system, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and scalability.

Q: How much blood does vital biosciences' technology require for testing?

The technology uses a total sample volume of about 600 microliters, which is less than one-tenth of the volume typically drawn for tests. This smaller sample size allows for multiple tests to be conducted, with about 40-50 tests being possible with that amount of blood.

Q: How does vital biosciences' blood testing machine work?

The machine consists of microfluidic discs and disposable tips. The blood sample is loaded onto the disc, and the machine performs various fluidic processes such as metering, diluting, and aliquating. The samples mix with reagents, and the tests are run in parallel. After the testing, the machine disposes of the used discs and tips.

Q: How do investors and potential customers react to seeing vital biosciences' blood testing machine?

Nadella explains that they receive positive reactions when conducting demos for investors and potential customers. They ensure transparency and comfort by walking them through the technology, comparing results with other lab tests, and addressing any concerns. The goal is to build trust in the system and showcase its accuracy and performance.

Q: What is the expected cost of vital biosciences' blood testing machine?

The cost of the machine will depend on the volume of testing a customer commits to. Typically, there is a minimum volume requirement, and the price of the instrument may be discounted or adjusted based on that commitment. The goal is to make the technology accessible to healthcare providers and enable them to bill for the tests.

Q: Is there significant variability in lab test results?

Nadella explains that different lab tests have different ranges and guidelines for acceptable variability. The clinical chemistry community and organizations like CLIA provide guidelines for allowable errors in lab tests. Vital biosciences aims to meet these standards and is transparent about their data, allowing customers to see their performance compared to gold standard tests.

Q: Is there an AI angle in vital biosciences' technology?

While vital biosciences leverages AI, machine learning, and computer vision for design and development purposes, the instrument itself does not heavily rely on AI algorithms for test interpretation. The focus is on accuracy, precision, and explainability. AI and knowledge systems may have a role in the future of healthcare, but vital biosciences is currently focused on the in vitro diagnostic pathway and building a strong foundation.

Q: How is vital biosciences managing the regulatory process with the FDA?

Nadella explains that their interactions with the FDA have been positive, and they value the feedback and guidance received. By following established guidelines and working with predicate instruments' standards, they aim to meet the FDA's requirements for clearance. They emphasize transparency and provide data on their website to demonstrate their progress and adherence to standards.

Q: How long do the regulatory and commercialization processes take?

Nadella shares that vital biosciences aims to start clinical studies in the back half of 2024 and be in the market by 2025. The timeframe for FDA clearance and commercialization can vary, but they have been planning and working towards these milestones for several years. They have raised multiple rounds of funding to support their journey and have strategically paid down technical and regulatory risks.

Q: What is the vision for vital biosciences and its impact on healthcare?

Nadella envisions a future where diagnostics are accessible everywhere, enabling advancements in care delivery and personalized medicine. He believes that the ability to constantly measure and analyze the body's parameters opens up new possibilities for healthcare. By building on top of vital biosciences' technology, other innovations and AI systems can be developed to revolutionize the industry.

Takeaways

Vital biosciences aims to revolutionize healthcare by making blood testing more accessible, efficient, and accurate. Their technology allows for multiple tests with a small sample size, reducing the need for extensive blood draws. The company's focus on precise and reliable instrumentation sets it apart, and they are transparent about their performance and adherence to standards. While AI has a role in healthcare, vital biosciences currently prioritizes in vitro diagnostics and building a strong foundation. Their goal is to leverage their technology to enable advancements in care delivery and empower both patients and physicians.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vital Biosciences is developing a compact blood testing system that can perform a wide range of tests with a small sample of blood in just 20 minutes.

• The system utilizes microfluidic technology and disposable components to ensure accuracy and reliability.

• By making lab testing more accessible and efficient, Vital Biosciences aims to empower patients and improve the overall quality of healthcare.