A spin-off born at the ICVS has just taken a significant step toward translating biomedical innovation into reality. IPLEXMED signed a major technology transfer agreement with the University of Minho and the INL, acquiring exclusive rights to groundbreaking graphene-based biosensing technology for the detection of malaria and other pathogenic bacteria.
This licensing agreement with IPLEXMED, a company focused on advanced medical diagnostics, gives it the rights for the use and commercialization of the intellectual property of pioneering graphene sensors developed by INL and UMinho. These sensors will mark a true leap forward in non-invasive diagnostics, offering rapid detection at a high degree of accuracy from simple saliva or urine samples. Capable of transforming global health efforts, most especially in resource-constrained settings, this technology is among the most promising developments for early infectious disease detection.
Formalized during the UMinho Research and Innovation Open Days, the agreement builds on technology created within the H2020 MULTIMAL project and patented in 2024. For the ICVS, the moment carries particular significance: IPLEXMED, founded in 2021 as a direct outcome of research conducted within the institute, is a powerful example of how ICVS science can translate into impactful solutions for global health.
Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of UMinho, and Ado Jório, Deputy Director-General of INL, underlined that this agreement is a prominent example of the strength of the teams behind the technology, as well as the value of long-term collaboration in transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions.
Created by Bruno Almeida, Joana Guerreiro, Neide Vieira and Jérôme Borme, IPLEXMED has already advanced its NEXAGUARD® diagnostic platform to TRL 6, with commercialization expected by 2027.
