RMIT transfers all IP for gas capsule to Atmo Biosciences in exchange for equity

An ingestible capsule used to monitor gut health markers has taken another small step towards commercialisation, with RMIT University transferring IP ownership to Atmo Biosciences.

Digital health business Atmo Biosciences is commercialising a capsule that it says “measures gases as it travels through the gastrointestinal tract and transmits the data wirelessly” and which was first built as lab prototypes and tested at RMIT labs in 2011.

On Tuesday RMIT announced that it has transferred “all patents and associated intellectual property” related to the Atmo Gas Capsule “in exchange for an equity stake in the company.” The size of the stake was not disclosed in the release.

The capsule was first licenced to Atmo in 2018.

“Full ownership of our core IP further strengthens Atmo’s position as we advance toward regulatory clearance and commercialisation, ensuring long-term value for our company and the patients we aim to serve,” said CEO Mal Hebblewhite.

Last year a trial of the device’s safety and efficacy was completed, covering 200 subjects from 12 trial sites in the US and Australia.

At this stage the Atmo Gas Capsule System is not available for sale and is exclusively used in clinical research. The device is pending FDA 510(k) clearance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Atmo Head of Clinical Affairs Kyle Berean said that information collected by the capsule “is useful not only to clinicians to aid diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, such as dysmotility, but can also be used by researchers to determine the impact and efficacy of dietary and pharmacological interventions.”

Picture: supplied

Further reading

Breakthrough Victoria invests in gut gas detection startup

Federal government announces winners in $50 million-plus of modernisation grants

Health tech commercialisation centre opens in Melbourne CBD