Our Companies
Tracells, a dynamic spinoff company from the Weizmann Institute of Science, has pioneered a reliable non-invasive solution for predicting colonoscopy outcomes, reducing the burden on individuals.
The stool test developed by Tracells utilizes RNA profiles from patients’ intestinal cells, which are shed into the stool, enabling accurate diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Through AI-driven analysis, our platform provides insights into inflammation severity, location, and probabilities of response to different therapies.
Beyond IBD, our innovative technology, based on a licensed patent from the Weizmann Institute of Science, holds promise for addressing various gastrointestinal diseases, including Celiac disease, Colorectal cancer (CRC), and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
The Need
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) present a significant health challenge worldwide, affecting approximately 0.5% of the global population, with an estimated 10 million IBD patients. In addition, the number of new cases each year has been steadily increasing over the past two decades, highlighting the urgent need for better ways to monitor and diagnose patients.
Current non-invasive blood and fecal tests lack the necessary specificity for accurately diagnosing IBD and fail to identify the location of inflammation, thus mandating invasive diagnostic procedures. In cases of ileal Crohn’s disease (CD), traditional fecal calprotectin testing often yields notable rates of false positives and false negatives results.
Although effective, invasive diagnostic procedures can result in serious complications for approximately 3 out of every 1,000 patients, such as bleeding or perforation of the colon during or after the procedure. Additionally, the preparatory fasting and bowel cleansing processes can cause significant discomfort for patients, leading to reluctance or inconvenience.
Moreover, achieving endoscopic remission, a pivotal treatment objective for IBD, currently relies only on invasive methods such as endoscopies and biopsies.
Tracells’ Solution
Offering a reliable, non-invasive solution that accurately identifies inflammation locations & severity, thereby improving patient care and treatment outcomes.
Tracells’ stool test utilizes RNA profiles from patients’ epithelial and immune cells, which are shed into the stool, for accurate IBD diagnosis.
Maya Kahan-Hanum, PhD, CEO
Educated at Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel; with 10+ years of experience in drug development, most recently Vice President Pre-Clinic at Biomx; head of translational sciences and senior project leader of several projects; managing end-to-end drugs development at pre-clinical/Phase I-II stages in multiple therapeutic areas, such as Cystic Fibrosis, IBD and Oncology.
Yotam Harnik, PhD, CTO
Educated at Weizmann Institute of Science under the guidance of Prof. Itzkovitz, specializing in the intersection of molecular and computational biology. His notable expertise encompasses the creation of extensively referenced molecular atlases within the realm of intestinal biology, showcasing his profound understanding of this specialized field.
The Market Opportunity
Globally, there are approximately ~10 million individuals living with IBD, with the US and Europe comprising 21% and 32% of this population, respectively. Every year, 70,000 new cases of inflammatory bowel disease are diagnosed in the U.S. The IBD diagnostics market reached $1.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to surpass $1.5 billion by 2028, presenting a significant opportunity for Tracells and its innovative technology.
