The Papilio.bio start-up was created by Serena Petracchini and Chiara Cespi Polisiani. The latter answers our questions.
Who is your solution for and how does it meet a need for women?
Chiara Cespi Polisiani: In France, 12 million women will face at least once in their lives at the human papillomavirus (HPV). In some, these viruses promote the development of cervical cancer. This cancer is avoidable, however it is at the origin of more than 1000 deaths each year in France. Faced with this enemy, there are vaccines which must be supplemented by regular screening by smear. But it is estimated that 42% of women do not participate or not enough.
Our ambition is to revolutionize the detection of HPV with a self -test readable in 15 minutes at home (unlike conventional tests per PCR which take several days).
Can you present your test in detail?
We offer a quick HPV detection self -test (more precisely HPV16 and 18, the main cancer managers). The medical device that looks like a small pen is to be introduced into the vagina for women, then the result appears within 15 minutes.
A version for men is also available, since it is estimated that a third of men carry HPV without knowing it and that the virus can also cause ENT cancers, anus cancers and penis cancers. In men, the sample is done at the penis level with a small brush. Let us recall today that the latter are not detected.
Beyond this innovative medical system, we develop an application that will be able to issue validated and practical information for women regardless of the result. The objective is to direct the patient to validated information and prevention advice and/or to the appropriate healthcare professional, if necessary.
What are the next steps for your business?
We are currently in research and development phase, installed in Paris Saclay within the start-up/Biolabs start-up incubator. Our immediate objective is to finalize the prototype, which involves design, technology, patent deposits at national and international level and recruitments. We finalize fundraising to accelerate development, including clinical trials and the regulatory part.
Ultimately, we hope to go beyond the HPV screening by offering self-tests for the main pathogens, which has meaning in developed countries with a declining medical demography. In developing countries, this would allow access to quality screening even though the medical infrastructure is missing.