Tekcapital plc, (AIM: TEK) announces that its portfolio company Belluscura plc, in conjunction with its exclusive research partner Separation Design Group, has announced the filing of a patent application covering novel modular portable oxygen enrichment ventilation systems for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) brought on by such diseases as COVID-19. Tekcapital owns 18.9% of the share capital of Belluscura.
Belluscura and Separation Design are rapidly designing and developing next generation, cost-effective, portable oxygen enrichment and ventilation technology to treat COPD and ARDS patients. This latest patent application covers devices and systems for treating people suffering from COPD and ARDS including patients suffering from the recent coronavirus, COVID-19. The primary cause of death from respiratory viruses like the coronavirus and influenza, are the result of the fluids accumulating inside the alveoli (the tiny air sacs of the lungs) which ultimately leads to the failure of the transfer of oxygen to and carbon dioxide out of the blood. The current primary treatment for ARDS is oxygen therapy along with ventilator support.
Commenting on the patenting activities, Bob Rauker, CEO of Belluscura, said: "We are very excited about our next generation oxygen technologies. With the launch this year of our first product, the X-PLOR™ portable oxygen concentrator, into the respiratory treatment field where over 250 million people suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death, it is critical that we continue to innovate into the ever-expanding oxygen therapy market".
Doug Galbraith, CEO of Separation Design, lead inventor on over 12 oxygen enrichment patents, states, "We need to continue developing cost-effective respiratory solutions to meet the healthcare demands of the future."
This announcement follows British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request for manufacturers to retool production to start making specialist health equipment, including ventilators. The prime minister will speak to British manufacturers to ask them to support production of essential medical equipment for the NHS. The Prime Minister has already stressed the vital role of Britain’s manufacturers in preparing the country for a significant spread of coronavirus and call on them to step up and support the nationwide effort to fight the virus. Ventilators are used to keep people with coronavirus alive if they have lung complications after acquiring the virus. Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said there had been an enthusiastic response to the prime minister's call for ventilator production.
Tekcapital shares are currently trading up 52% following this announcement.