Probioverse eyes US$10m funding for wearables on gut care

It is also partnering with probiotic makers that target specific organ health.

Hong Kong startup Probioverse aims to raise as much as $78m (US$10m) to develop wearable tech and an artificial intelligence (AI) system that will let doctors treat gut problems.

“The gut microbiome affects pretty much every single organ, be it the brain, the heart, the liver, the kidneys, and so forth,” Akin Smith, director at Probioverse, told Hong Kong Business.

Data from the smart ring wearables that they are developing would let them devise a plan to “modulate” the ecosystem of microbes that live in one’s intestines, he added. These will also monitor blood oxygen and sugar, amongst other metrics, to assess organ health and ensure interventions are based on accurate and timely data.

“A doctor having a consistent view throughout the entire day of what a person's blood sugar is like gives him a much more robust picture of his patient's health,” Smith said via Zoom. “We want to make that information available to doctors so that they can make more informed treatment decisions.”

Probioverse also aims to partner with probiotic makers that target specific organ health. It has one partner now—Pennsylvania-based Kibow Biotech, Inc., which makes Renadyl, a natural probiotic dietary supplement for the kidneys.

Smith said they chose Kibow for its scientifically backed products and focus on kidney health, noting that about 10% of Asians and about eight hundred thousand people in Hong Kong have chronic kidney disease.

Under the deal, Renadyl will be sold in Hong Kong by June, available online.

Smith said the company is also looking for partners that focus on liver health.  He noted that whilst a number of probiotics are available in Hong Kong, most don't provide clinically tested solutions targeted to certain organs or systems.

Probioverse seeks to develop its own probiotic products, but this is unlikely to happen in the next two years given the significant funding, research and trials the company is aiming for, he said.

For now, Smith said the startup would focus on raising awareness about kidney health and creating their wearables and AI system, which they expect to do in three to five years.

“We're hoping to raise awareness on kidney issues in Hong Kong, and let people know there is a solution which is as easy and simple as taking a daily probiotic,” he added.