Healthcare provider SanusX, a corporate startup of Uniqa, is taking a stake of around 20 percent in our portfolio startup Biome Diagnostics.

Founded in 2018, Biome uses machine learning (artificial intelligence) to interpret the gut microbiome (gut flora) for medical purposes. In addition to approaches for cancer precision medicine, the company is also active in the field of “sound B2C gut microbiome analysis” with its lifestyle offering myBioma. Now, corporate startup SanusX is taking a roughly 20 percent stake in the Medtech.

Biome: Growth through partnership

Together, the two companies want to grow sustainably and develop new solutions in the health sector. The focus here will be on expanding the range of products and services for a healthy and preventive lifestyle.

The discovery of the gut microbiome in the 1990s has shed light on its pivotal role in overall health. It has become increasingly evident that “health begins in the gut. Both in prevention and therapy, the gut microbiome plays a significant role in the health and well-being of people. The gut microbiome comprises about 39 trillion bacteria that live in the gut of every person. In addition, the gut microbiome anchors about 70 percent of the immune system. In recent years, researchers have made significant progress in establishing important links between the gut microbiome and various diseases. These diseases include diabetes and obesity, mental health and depression, cancer development, and Parkinson’s disease.”

The great importance of the microbiome and the wide range of applications should open up great growth opportunities for SanusX and Biome in the future. They also complement SanusX’s existing home testing portfolio, which currently mainly includes blood tests.

Analysis of the intestinal microbiome as a health monitor

Barbara Sladek and Nikolaus Gasche, owner and CEO of Biome Diagnostics say: “Our vision is to give everyone easy access to the most profound analysis of the gut microbiome. So people take control of their own health and thereby improve their well-being. The advantage of the gut microbiome is that you can change and influence it. In SanusX, we have found an ideal strategic partner with whom we can work together to improve the health sector. We see the potential to broaden our customer base together and enable even more people to take the best possible care of their individual gut health in the future.”

Erich Kruschitz, CEO of SanusX, also takes a similar line. “The power of a healthy gut microbiome plays a significant role especially in the all-important area of prevention. But we are also convinced by the potential applications of Biome Diagnostics’ applications in the field of innovative precision therapy. We are therefore delighted to have found a new strong partner in BiomeDx. Together, we will leverage the great market potential that lies ahead. Austria has many highly innovative companies such as BiomeDx. We can optimally support their development through our know-how and market access. As a holistic healthcare provider and strategic investor, we will continue to strengthen our portfolio with selected acquisitions in the future.”

The goal of Biome: Accompanying people throughout their lives

Lukas Mayrl, Managing Director of SanusX, asserts that the company has set itself the goal of accompanying people throughout their lives in taking good care of themselves and maintaining and improving their health. One wants to support in every phase of life with offers in prevention or rehabilitation, he said.

“That’s why we analyze gaps and problem areas in current health care. Furthermore we focus on innovative offers that take people’s health needs into account. Home testing in particular is an effective tool to better understand oneself and the needs of one’s body and to take good preventive care,” he says. “Therefore, we are delighted to broaden our diagnostics business with BiomeDx and offer our customers an additional testing solution.”

Congrats to the whole team!