Vision

Preelumina’s vision is to improve women’s health by developing tools for the effective prediction and diagnosis of the disease as well as a cure for preeclampsia. Preelumina has identified a novel biological marker, free fetal hemoglobin, of preeclampsia and based on this developed a diagnostic test. Results so far show that this marker can be used as a diagnostic marker of preeclampsia while also enabling early prognosis during pregnancy. Preelumina has investigated the mechanisms behind the development of preeclampsia and identified a unique treatment method based on an endogenous protein which is under development. This could be the very first treatment of preeclampsia that is directed against the primary causes of the disease and not only its symptoms.

In 2007 Preelumina received the Lund University Innovation Prize and Innovationsbron Syds Idéstipendium.

Diagnosis and Therapy

Today preeclampsia is diagnosed through increased blood pressure and the appearance of proteins in urine, but this can only be done after the serious symptoms have appeared. This methodology allows neither the early identification of high risk patients, nor a proper diagnosis since a number of other diseases can be behind the symptoms. Preelumina's test method is based on a simple blood sample taken early in the pregnancy at the first visit to the maternity clinic. If this test show increased levels of free fetal hemoglobin they can easily be followed with more tests and the care be adjusted accordingly, allowing for early identification of women with increased risk of developing preeclampsia. Once the disease is established, there are today no treatments available except forced delivery. Preelumina has identified a possible treatment that can be applied in an early phase of preeclampsia since it is aimed against the initial causes of the disease. This treatment has the potential to dramatically reduce both mortality and morbidity for mothers and fetuses.