Created in 2023, the U-Fast start-up develops antibiograms capable of analyzing blood samples in a few minutes, for one to two days currently. An undeniable asset in the treatment of sepsis and which could decrease the antibiotic resistance of the population.
In order to fight against increasing antibiotic resistance, three students, Raundu Adikarigethamel, Asyan Kessi and Simon Reveranche, of the Paris-Saclay Institute of Optique, founded in 2023 a new start-up, called U-Fast, acronym of Ultra Fast Antibiotic susceptibility. The objective? Design and manufacture ultra-fast antibiograms, capable, in 15 minutes, to identify effective antibiotics, against one to two days currently. A major asset, when the hours are counted, as in the case of septicemia. In cases of serious infection, doctors often do not have time to find which antibiotic is the most suitable. They then prescribe a cocktail of drugs which, unfortunately, contributes to aggravating antibiotic resistance. The technology offered by the start-up thus helps to lighten pressure on hospitals and reduce the costs of tests and treatments.
The project, at the crossroads of biology and optics, finds its origins in the research work of Abdel El Abed (Lumin) and Dominique Fourmy (LBPA, for laboratory of applied biology and pharmacology). The machine developed by the start-up is in the same format as those usually used. It analyzes different antibiotics in parallel in a very short time, with very little genetic material. Previously, it was necessary to cultivate bacteria in Petri boxes before testing the drugs one by one.
Once the blood sample is examined, it sends an analysis report which indicates resistant or sensitive antibiotics. Currently, the technology of the start-up reaches a 3-4 TRL. It will be mature within two to three years for the private market. For the public, it will be necessary to wait until 2030 and many tests of tests and qualifications.
Many supporters
U-Fast is now funded only by subsidies and competitions. She notably received 160,000 euros via the CNRS premature program. 150,000 euros are added by the France Recue 2030 Plan, one of the objectives of which is to combat septicemia. These funding is partly dedicated to research and development, but also to the development of a second patent which will be the keystone of the technology offered by the start-up. This also made it possible to recruit a full-time post-doc on the subject. He strengthens the team, which has two co-founders students, the third having abandoned the project, as well as two researchers. In parallel, the co-founders continue their specialization: Asyan Kessi follows a course in optics and biology at IFSBM of the Faculty of Medicine Paris-Sud, Simon Revranche joined the Polytechnic School of Lausanne to work on biology and optics with the aim of becoming CTO, while Raindu Adikarigethamel continues his studies to develop the entrepreneurial dimension of Project, with the ambition to integrate station F. For the moment, U-Fast is hosted on the Saclay plateau and has received an incubation offer at Incuballiance, the Deep-Tech incubator of Paris-Saclay. No fundraising has yet taken place, but it will be inevitable to switch to industrialization, strengthen the marketing team and market the solution with hospitals.
