Prospero BioSciences

Prospero BioSciences, established in 2012, is a biotechnology firm focused on enhancing the analytical capabilities available to scientists and clinicians for high-mass molecules. The company was founded by Robert Blick and emerged as a spin-off from CIC nanoGUNE in October 2015, with backing from nanoGUNE, researcher Maria Arbulu, and the accelerator Hasten Ventures. Based in San Sebastian de los Reyes, Spain, Prospero BioSciences operates in the life sciences and medical diagnostics markets.

The core of the company's offering is a patented, ultra-high mass detection system designed to be retrofitted onto existing mass spectrometers, initially targeting MALDI-TOF instruments. This system centers around a proprietary nanomembrane encapsulated within a detection mechatronic, known as a Micro Channel Plate (MCP), which allows for seamless integration. The technology aims to provide unprecedented resolution and extend the dynamic mass range, enabling more precise quantitative analysis of large molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, and polymers.

The business model appears to be centered on the manufacturing and sale of this specialized hardware to research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and clinical diagnostic laboratories. By improving the performance of mass spectrometry, particularly for large molecules, the technology has direct applications in biomarker discovery, virus detection, proteomics, genomics, toxicology, and the development of pharmaceutical drugs. The company received a seed funding round of $20.1K on November 11, 2013, and was later awarded NEOTEC funds from the CDTI to finance its business plan and support its R&D activities.

Keywords: mass spectrometry, ultra-high mass detection, nanomembrane detector, MALDI-TOF, life sciences analytics, biomarker discovery, proteomics, genomics, virus detection, CIC nanoGUNE spin-off, Robert Blick, quantitative analysis, high-mass molecules, medical diagnostics, pharmaceutical analysis, toxicology screening, Micro Channel Plate, laboratory equipment, molecular analysis