Leiden-based healthtech startup Rapidemic has secured a €2.3M ($2.7M) grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance its molecular testing platform, RapiDetect.
The company’s first focus is a 15-minute test for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, two of the world’s most prevalent sexually transmitted infections, affecting more than 370 million people annually. Women in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately impacted, where access to reliable lab infrastructure is limited.
Molecular diagnostics without labs or electricity
Founded in 2021, Rapidemic develops room-temperature molecular assays that don’t require electricity, enabling point-of-care testing even in low-resource settings.
By delivering instant, accurate results, the platform enables testing and treatment in a single visit, reducing loss to follow-up and making diagnostics accessible far beyond traditional hospitals and labs.
CEO Violette Defourt explained:
“Our vision is to democratise molecular diagnostics by making them available anytime, anywhere, without complex infrastructure. With Gates Foundation support, we can bring RapiDetect closer to clinical use and ensure millions gain timely access to life-saving tools.”
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Scaling toward clinical use
The new capital will fund:
- Refinement of its assay for consistent DNA amplification at room temperature
- Development of a scalable manufacturing process
- Preparations for clinical verification and regulatory approval
Rapidemic has already shown strong early results in Belgian hospitals, doubling the number of patients identified in a fraction of the usual time.
Why it matters
With 70% of clinical trials delayed by recruitment challenges and infectious diseases still straining health systems worldwide, Rapidemic is positioning itself as a key player in accessible, low-cost molecular diagnostics.
By tackling STIs first, the startup is setting the stage for a broader pipeline of infectious disease tests deployable globally — especially where healthcare infrastructure is weakest.
