Health technology startup Aqsens Health operates at Werstas Labs, intended for biotech companies, where it has two laboratories and three office rooms at its disposal. In the company's laboratory facilities, they develop tests for the early detection of serious diseases. How did it all begin?
Roots in the academic world
Like many other biotech startups, Aqsens Health has its roots in the academic world. Pekka Hänninen, Dean at the University of Turku, invented an extension to the TRF technology developed in the Turku region, which came to be called the Enhanced TRF method. Based on this research, current CEO Timo Teimonen and Hänninen founded Aqsens Health, which began its operations in 2017, the same year when the biosensors currently at the core of the company's research were introduced. Both founders are still actively involved in the company's operations: Hänninen currently serves as a board member, and Teimonen as CEO.
Aqsens Health develops tests for hard-to-detect diseases and for conditions where early diagnosis is most beneficial. Notably, these tests do not use blood, but saliva or urine.
The company's core team operates in Werstas Labs, with additional operations in Helsinki. The company recently received reinforcement from Ghana when a researcher was hired from a medical research institute there 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, CEO Timo Teimonen?
"One key aspect in malaria management 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 massive amount of resources are used for its elimination. One key aspect in malaria management 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 Memorial Institute for Medical Research, affiliated with the University of Ghana, specializes in malaria research, which Aqsens Health became interested in through mutual contacts.
– We thought that collaboration with a research institute specializing in fatal infectious diseases and their researchers might help us get started. A suitable partner was found, and the project was launched smoothly. Samples arrive in Finland quickly, and the collaboration continues. It is great now that we also have a dedicated researcher here on-site, says Teimonen with appreciation.
Synergy and encounters in the Science Park
The Science Park area is the center of the biotech sector in Turku and therefore a natural base for Aqsens as well. A good example of the collaboration between the area's actors is the newly started cooperation between Aqsens Health, Turku University Hospital (TYKS), and Auria Biobank in bladder cancer research. The goal of the research collaboration is to verify how the biosensors developed by Aqsens can be used to detect cancer and monitor its treatment.
– Follow-up examinations for bladder cancer, including cystoscopies, are quite expensive and also uncomfortable for patients. If a urine-based screening method were available alongside cystoscopies, reducing their number by, for example, half would free up more resources elsewhere. In addition, a urine-based test would be more pleasant 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, there is no need to think about logistics; we just walk and pick them up. Other practical matters are also easily handled from PharmaCity: our international guests find it easy to travel by train from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to Kupittaa Station and stay overnight in a nearby hotel.
In addition to collaboration between the area's actors, people can get to know each other more informally at joint events.
– Our staff has participated in Joki community morning coffees and Joki Forum events. Sometimes it is nice to start the morning a bit more specially and meet others working in the Science Park, says laboratory manager Vilhelmiina Juusti.