Astek Diagnostics

Astek Diagnostics, Inc., a medical diagnostics company established in Baltimore, Maryland in 2020, is developing a novel solution to expedite the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections. The company's core technology, the Jiddu system, is a diagnostic platform designed to confirm the presence of bacterial infections and rapidly determine their susceptibility to various antibiotics. This is achieved by analyzing a single patient sample in approximately one hour, a significant reduction from the current standard of care which can take several days.

The company was founded by Mustafa Al-Adhami, PhD, who serves as the CEO. His background in biomedical engineering and his postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, on a rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing platform, laid the groundwork for Astek's technology. The initial focus for the company is on urinary tract infections (UTIs), with plans to launch a urine-based test in 2025. The Jiddu system aims to provide clinicians with actionable information swiftly, enabling them to prescribe effective antibiotics from the outset, thereby improving patient outcomes and combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Astek Diagnostics operates in the in-vitro diagnostics market, targeting healthcare providers such as hospitals and clinics as its primary clients. The business model will likely revolve around the sale of the Jiddu diagnostic instrument and associated single-use cartridges for different sample types. The company has secured funding through various channels, including a $2 million seed round in 2023, and has received support from organizations like TEDCO and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Keywords: antibiotic susceptibility testing, urinary tract infections, medical diagnostics, rapid diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance, in-vitro diagnostics, bacterial infections, Jiddu system, life sciences, healthcare technology