About 15 million preterm babies are born around the world annually and more than one million die soon after birth mainly due to respiratory complications. Respiratory distress syndrome is a common and serious complication of preterm birth accounting for 50 percent of cases. Another fact is that more than 2 million kids less than 5 years lose their lives due to pneumonia, sepsis, severe malaria and air pollution every year in low and middle-income countries. These illnesses which are treatable can present as undifferentiated acute respiratory distress that can progress to respiratory failure.
Realizing the importance of developing a solution to reduce the mortality due to respiratory illnesses, the Bengaluru based startup, Biodesign Innovation Labs has developed a respiratory support device that provides continuous positive airway pressure oxygen therapy for children who are suffering from such ailments. Biodesign is a healthcare technology and medical device based startup focused on reducing mortality and morbidity in children under 5 years through Innovative medical technologies.
One of the co-founders of the startup, Adithya Pasupuleti had been observing various problems and needs in the healthcare system in India. He spent a significant amount of time in understanding various problems at hospitals such as AIIMS, and other places in South India while serving in various capacities. He along with his brother, Gautham Pasupuleti took up their most loved cause, a vision to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all.
Biodesign founders identified many problems and needs in the respiratory care, pediatric/neonatal age group which helped them to develop different types of medical devices catering to those needs.
Giving an idea about the thought process behind their work, Gautam Pasupuleti, who is currently the CEO and MD of Biodesign Innovation Labs explained: “Respiratory illnesses are one of the major causes for deaths in the developing countries and we have visited many hospitals across India to understand the various pain-points in the hospital system especially in ICU, emergency and paediatrics.”
On being asked particularly about the motivation behind taking up the challenge, Gautam added, “The approach to problem-solving and building solution through design thinking that caters to a specific needs, was the primary motivation behind starting this medtech company.”
The initial funding awards won by the company include CAMTech National Jugaadathon 2017 from Global Health MGH, Elevate 100 from KBITS which helped it to accelerate product development catering to pediatric age group by developing respiratory support devices. Biodesign is also supported by Nidhi Prayas (IKP Eden) and BIRAC BIG program through IKP as the BIG partner.
Overcoming initial challenges
Both the founders pointed out that for a startup which is not initially well funded, it was important to have sustainable funding to cover the expenses for operation. Their other major challenge was no different than their other biotech/medtech startups, which included taking their idea to market and following regulatory pathways.
Biodesign Innovation Labs was incubated at IKP Eden in Bengaluru. As per founders, it got tremendous support from IKP and BIRAC in terms of mentoring, funding and incubation.
Gautam credits the government agencies for their mentorship, funding and incubation. He says: “With such an excellent ecosystem, it is important for startups to focus on their product/service to get it to market after validation. Thanks to IKP, BIRAC, Nidhi Prayas and KBITS, we are constantly in touch with an industry expert who could provide valuable suggestions and advice as part of regulatory hurdles that startups face.”
He specifically points out to many regulatory workshops that are conducted by the government of India to create a clear pathway for startups in terms of regulations and quality standards.
“BIG program at IKP needs a special mention as we were always contacted for opportunities by them rather than we asking them. We don’t think this kind of progress would have been possible anywhere else. There is tremendous support from government agencies and we are very happy the way things are moving,” says Gautam while expressing his special thanks to Ms Deepanwita CEO, IKP and Mr Vikraman Venu CEO, IKP Eden for handholding the company.
The focus of R&D activities
The team at Biodesign Innovation Labs over a period of time has been observing various issues in the respiratory. The gaps and problems in the existing solutions in the system made them develop products catering to those needs. One of the company’s product is “RESPAP”, a respiratory support device that is developed for providing continuous positive airway pressure oxygen therapy for children with respiratory distress. This product can cater to low resource healthcare settings as well as tertiary hospitals.
RESPAP is currently in the clinical pilot phase and is going through a few functional improvements and design iterations before it is launched in the market this year. RESPAP is a respiratory support device that is affordable and accessible for the treatment of respiratory distress in children. Company’s next product “RESPIRAID” is a mechanical ventilation device that is aimed to be launched next year end.
