May 24, 2023

Swedish deeptech startup secures funding to combat antibiotic resistance with advanced urinary tract infection diagnosis solution UTIlizer AB , a spin-off company originating from Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, has successfully raised €608.2K (7 million Swedish kronor) from a distinguished consortium of backers, including ALMI Invest , life science angel investors, and Propel Capital ( STING ) network. This health tech startup is revolutionizing the field by developing cost-effective diagnostic solutions for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) in markets where high antibiotic resistance is prevalent. By calculating the number of bacteria in urine, UTIlizer’s innovative diagnostic test allows for the accurate detection of UTIs without the need for expensive laboratory equipment. Furthermore, their focus on AST addresses the crucial issue of inappropriate antibiotic usage, which can lead to antibiotic resistance in patients. Through this investment, UTIlizer will be able to scale up its production process, conduct essential clinical trials for EVDR/CE certification, and expand its team to effectively manage production and enhance marketing efforts. UTIlizer recognizes the need to promptly alleviate the detrimental effects of UTIs on patients, considering the high costs and time-consuming nature of existing diagnostic tests. They emphasize the importance of avoiding unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance. Thus, there is a pressing need for rapid diagnostic tests that expedite the diagnosis process and aid in making informed treatment decisions. “Thanks to the support of our investors, UTI-lizer can commercialize an innovative and rapid point-of-need test for urinary tract infections, thus meeting the needs of both patients and the healthcare system. The company’s expertise in life sciences, combined with a wide network and entrepreneurial spirit, will be invaluable to advancing the solution. Our first product is a game-changer in managing UTIs and the first one in a series of other applications.” says Sofia Bertling, CEO at UTI-lizer. “UTI-lizer’s products have the potential to provide a significantly faster, cheaper and more accurate diagnosis of suspected bacterial infections, e.g. urinary tract infections, by enabling the miniaturized culture of bacteria at healthcare centers, and eventually at home. The need for this is large and global, and the product is scalable, so we see enormous potential in the company”, says Gustav Notander, Investment Manager at Almi Invest.