As always, we have once again realized the importance of high-tech entrepreneurship during this challenging period. As Hello Tomorrow Turkey, we have been working to support deep tech initiatives by introducing them to the ecosystem and sharing new developments in the deep tech field with you since our establishment. Even during this period of crisis, which is increasingly affecting both globally and in Turkey, we will continue to share the most advanced technologies developed by deep tech initiatives in response to COVID-19 with our ecosystem. In our upcoming articles, we will provide an opportunity to evaluate the crisis period from different perspectives, allowing us to follow this period from a broad perspective.
You can find updates on valuable initiatives that are trying to minimize the damage by addressing the impacts of COVID-19 through the technology they develop from the Hello Tomorrow Turkey network in the continuation of our article. To stay informed and become part of Hello Tomorrow Turkey’s unique network, you can contact us at istanbul@hello-tomorrow.org.
Medical Technology Initiatives Are Directly Fighting COVID-19
The agile nature of these initiatives drives them to act quickly in global health crises like COVID-19. Digital health initiatives operating all over Turkey have also begun to work rapidly in response to this crisis. Let’s examine this picture together, where new initiatives are added daily, ranging from diagnostic kit production to ventilators, from vaccine studies to 3D printed face shields.
Vaccine studies have been a topic of focus since the very beginning of the outbreak. GEEN Biotechnology, one of the finalists from Hello Tomorrow Turkey Finals, is a biotechnology company developing therapeutic viruses by working on synthetic virology. GEEN is using its Intellivir Discovery Platform, developed for cancer immunotherapy, to illuminate the critical features that the COVID-19 vaccine must possess. The experimental vaccine candidate will be Intellivac SC201A.
The Hello Tomorrow Turkey 2020 Challenge Grand Winner and finalist in the Drug Discovery category of the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge, RS Research, led by Prof. Dr. Rana Sanyal, aims to deliver a treatment that reduces the alarming side effects by administering the drug via the respiratory tract to prevent the progression of the disease before the end of 2020.
Among the companies in the GOSB Teknopark, BB Agriculture Food Engineering R&D firm has started clinical trials and cell tests aiming to slow down and stop COVID-19’s entry into the human body through ACE 2 receptors, which are described as the gateway for the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Özören and her team from Boğaziçi University’s Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics are continuing their vaccine studies for COVID-19. Prof. Dr. Nesrin Özören stated regarding their vaccine development, “We will add our microbubble technology to the ‘Spike’ surface protein parts of the coronavirus that appear like a crown. We are also considering developing a vaccine as a nasal spray. There are also teams in the consortium that are making drugs for the virus.”
Turkey’s Diagnostic Kit Production Profile
With the increase in COVID-19 cases in Turkey, diagnostic kit studies have also gained momentum. Among the biotechnology companies producing diagnostic kits, Aksense Medical Biotechnology is also part of our Hello Tomorrow Turkey network. Aksense has developed a new blood analysis biosensor that can detect infections in minutes. Using the rapid diagnostic biosensor, which has completed clinical studies and tests, infections caused by “E.Coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis” can be detected from a finger prick together.
Anatolia Geneworks’ Real-Time PCR Covid-19 kits provide results within 2 hours and are being exported to Italy. By ensuring that the design used in the test kit detects multiple target areas, the risk of possible mutations in the virus affecting the test result is eliminated, ensuring results with 100% specificity.
Bioeksen R&D Technologies’ kit provides clinically accurate results for the definitive diagnosis of the virus in approximately 90 minutes. Bioeksen’s detection systems also provide a significant advantage in identifying the cause of the disease by screening other 24 viral agents that could cause the disease when SARS-CoV-2 is negative.
Genkord Genetics produces a fast and simple test kit that can detect IgM and IgG antibodies within 15 minutes.
RTA Laboratories developed a molecular-based test kit that provides results in about 3 hours after a month of studies at its R&D center in Gebze.
Hibrigen Biotechnology provides services in nucleic acid purification kits and nucleic acid analysis. It produces COVID-19 Real-Time PCR diagnostic kits.
Mobilmed Medical Systems produces low-cost COVID-19 microfluidic diagnostic chips as well as 3D printer-supported protective masks.
Notrino Research has developed an automated radiological diagnosis system for COVID-19 pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, other viral pneumonias, and healthy lung classification through analysis using lung graphics with artificial intelligence support.
NucleoGene has developed a Covid-19 Real-Time PCR diagnostic kit with high sensitivity and rapid diagnosis features.
Sentromer DNA Technologies produces SentroPlex COVID-19 diagnostic kits that provide results in 90 minutes, designed for laboratory use.
Diagen Biotechnological Systems is developing a COVID-19 diagnostic kit measured with PCR technology.
Polgen Biotechnology, in collaboration with Sentebiolab Biotechnology, has developed the Senteligo SARS-CoV-2 qPCR detection kit, which can provide results within 1 hour after RNA isolation. The kit has a completely synthetic and non-pathogenic positive control that eliminates the possibility of false-negative results due to enzymatic problems. DS Bio and Nano Product Tracking and Verification produce a diagnostic kit for COVID-19 consisting of Real-Time PCR, specific primers, and probes.
Krosgen produces the KrosQuant SARS-COV-2 Real-Time PCR diagnostic kit with a working time of approximately 90 minutes. The kit also includes positive and negative controls.
Eravis offers a diagnostic method that allows for the immediate detection of COVID-19 findings by analyzing x-ray and tomography images using deep learning methods, unlike other diagnostic kits we mentioned.
Hello Tomorrow Turkey Finals finalist Spirohome conducts breath tests for users who download their mobile application on their smartphones by pairing it with the mobile breath testing device, Spirometer. Thanks to the application, users can receive guidance for breath exhalation movements during the test and also store all values. This device and application provide convenience, especially in monitoring the breath of COPD and asthma patients during the COVID-19 period.
Other biotechnology companies in Turkey that have started producing or have reached the final stages of developing COVID-19 diagnostic kits include Aegene Biotechnology, Nanobiz Technology, PMS Medical, BioNanoGen Technology, and Vision Biotechnology.
Ventilator and Protective Equipment Production is Also Receiving Strong Support
Ventilator and protective equipment production also plays an important role in the fight against COVID-19, just as vaccines and diagnostic kits do. It is heartening to see that Turkey’s technology-producing initiatives are not indifferent to these areas.
ARG Medical produces 3D printed face shields with the support of Suleyman Demirel University Göller Region Technopark.
Teknopark Istanbul company Bacpolyzyme Bioengineering is conducting studies aiming to filter airborne viral and microbial contaminants with approved biomaterial integration to increase the protective capability of the masks currently produced.
Yıldız Teknopark company Inovenso Technology has started the production of nanofiber masks that provide complete protection against viruses without restricting breathing through Hybrid Electrospinning technology. Direct support provided to hospitals besides protective equipment is ensured with ventilators and nebulizers.
Bilkent Cyberpark operates Biosys Biomedical, which is in demand worldwide with its Biyovent Intensive Care Type Mechanical Ventilator Device. Biyovent was produced as a result of 5 years of R&D work with support from the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, TÜBİTAK, and Bilkent University Cyberpark.
The Foras BiNEFES SP-100 Ventilator, produced by Foras Medical, is a portable ventilator designed to support patients needing artificial respiration in their homes and other living spaces.
Among the companies in DEPARK, Innolife Mekatronik is contributing to alleviating the effects of COVID-19 with the ventilators they produce as well as with transparent face shields.
Modül Group Engineering is engaged in the production of transport ventilators under the Oxivent brand.
Albedo Health is producing nebulizers used to better deliver medications to the airways in cases where there is significant respiratory distress, as well as disposable products such as gloves and caps.
CGR Medical produces masks, connection hoses, mouthpieces, and oxygen cannulas for the nebulizer device.
ELAA Technology, Medicraft Medical Systems, Meditera support the struggle against COVID-19 with the ventilators they produce, while Lupus Medical and Medisec Healthcare also contribute with nebulizer production.
As Hello Tomorrow Turkey, we will continue to share the latest developments in the Deep Tech ecosystem with you. Our next article will focus on "Mobile/Online Applications and Deep Tech Initiatives Producing in the Disinfection Field that Make Our Lives Easier during the COVID-19 Period." Stay tuned and take care!
Hello Tomorrow Turkey Team
Are you a start-up fighting against COVID-19?
Contact us at istanbul@hello-tomorrow.org to update our article!
*You can reach the open-source "COVID-19 Turkey Competence Map" initiated by the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center, which we benefited from while compiling our article, and the map titled "Initiatives and Supporters in Turkey Fighting Corona" prepared in collaboration with Patent Effect and Startups Watch. Both sources are open to new additions.
