Breathonix targets HSA approval for Covid-19 test in Q1 2021, US$20 price point

SINGAPORE-BASED startup Breathonix is targeting to receive provisional authorisation from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for its 60-second Covid-19 breath test by Q1 2021.

Breathonix is targeting a service model, with a price point of US$20 per test, said Kok Beng Neo, chairman of the startup, at a press conference on Thursday.

"With the advantages of a 60-second in-situ test for Covid-19, the Breathonix system could potentially be used for mass screening in areas of high human traffic," he said. These include air and sea ports.

The startup's chief operating officer Du Fang said that it plans to scale up its commercialisation plans, including outside of Singapore, once receiving the green light from HSA.

To maintain a low price point, he expects that Breathonix will need to conduct at least 5,000 tests monthly.

Breathonix has received an expression of interest from a major hospitality player in Singapore to collaborate on expansion and implementation of studies, Assoc Prof Kok added.

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Breathonix achieved an accuracy rate above 90 per cent at a recent pilot clinical trial involving 180 patients, in collaboration with the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

It is expanding this trial to include more patients, said chief executive Jia Zhunan.

The device's key advantage is that it is easy to use and non-invasive, as a user only needs to exhale into a disposable mouthpiece connected to the system. The test result will be generated automatically by an algorithm.