Medtech firm Leuko has received a $4.5 million Small Business Innovative Research phase IIB award from the U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute to advance the development of PointCheck, its noninvasive at-home white blood cell monitoring device.
White blood cell monitoring is critical to detect and avert infections, particularly for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and other treatments that lead to a compromised immune system. Presently, this monitoring is performed through blood tests, which limits the frequency of testing.
The PointCheck device uses light to look through the skin at the top of the fingernail, and advanced algorithms analyze and detect when white blood cells reach dangerously low levels. Because it is noninvasive and can be used by the patient at home, the PointCheck will allow for regular, frequent testing, according to Leuko. Patients at high risk for infection can be identified early and given preventive treatment, which will in turn reduce hospital admissions and improve clinical outcomes, the Boston-based firm added.
The company said that the NIH grant will accelerate development of the PointCheck platform and generate clinical evidence to commercialize the technology.
