Novità su NIB biotec

NIB biotec selected for INNOVIT: a step toward the United States

NIB biotec has been selected among the innovative Italian SMEs to participate in INNOVIT – Italian Innovation and Culture Hub, the program promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and by ICE – Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies, with the aim of accompanying the most promising companies towards the US market (source)(source).

NIB biotec has been selected in the Life Sciences sector, one of the strategic sectors on which INNOVIT is focusing to strengthen the presence of Italian innovation in the United States and, in particular, in Silicon Valley (source)(source).

What is INNOVIT and why is it a key opportunity?

INNOVIT is the Italian innovation hub based in San Francisco, operational since 2021, created to create a structured bridge between the Italian and American innovation ecosystems. The project is promoted by the MAECI, implemented with the support of ICE, the Italian Embassy in Washington, and the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco (source)(source).

Through the CALL4INNOVIT programs, INNOVIT supports innovative startups and SMEs in preparation, acceleration and soft-landing paths in the United States, offering access to mentors, investors, corporations, research centers and leading stakeholders in the American market (source)(source).

NIB biotec's selection in the Life Sciences track

The selection of NIB Biotec took place within the CALL4INNOVIT Life Sciences – Biotech, dedicated to companies operating in the biotech, medtech and life sciences sectors, considered today among the most dynamic and strategic at a global level (source)(source). The US market represents a benchmark for innovation in the life sciences sector, both due to the presence of a mature industrial and financial ecosystem and the strong integration between research, clinical practice, and business.

In this context, INNOVIT is configured as a privileged platform to prepare Italian companies to face a conscious and structured international growth (source).

A program structured in two phases

The INNOVIT program includes a multi-phase process, designed to gradually guide selected companies toward the US market.

Phase 1 – Training and Mentoring

In the first phase, entirely online, the selected SMEs participate in a strategic orientation, training, and mentoring program. Activities include needs analysis, in-depth analysis of the American market, mentoring with international experts, and preparation sessions for discussions with American investors and partners (source).

This phase aims to strengthen the company's positioning, refine the US market entry strategy, and best prepare for the next step.

Phase 2 – In-person experience in San Francisco

At the end of the first phase, a small number of companies are selected for the in-person phase at INNOVIT's headquarters in San Francisco. This experience, lasting one or two weeks (depending on the company profile), includes intensive workshops, meetings with mentors and stakeholders in the life sciences sector, visits to technology companies and local institutions, as well as networking and business matching opportunities culminating in the Demo Day (source)(source).

A look to the future

For NIB biotec, participation in INNOVIT represents a strategic opportunity to accelerate its internationalization process and engage with one of the world's most advanced life sciences ecosystems. Being selected among Italian SMEs for this program not only means gaining access to high-level expertise and relationships, but also helping to strengthen the presence of Italian biotech innovation in the United States.

With this move, NIB biotec confirms its commitment to transforming scientific research into innovative diagnostic solutions, with an increasingly international vision.

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Il sensore colorimetrico per lo zinco alla base di ZenPSA-pro

Il legame tra zinco urinario and prostate cancer è oggi un tema di ricerca in rapido sviluppo. Negli ultimi anni, diversi studi hanno dimostrato che i livelli di questo metallo nelle urine variano significativamente in presenza di patologie prostatiche, aprendo la strada a nuovi approcci diagnostici più semplici, rapidi e soprattutto non invasivi.

In questo contesto si inserisce la recente pubblicazione scientifica “A Rapid and Versatile Colorimetric Sensor for the Visual Detection of Zinc Ions in Urine and Drinking Water” (Sensors, 2026), un lavoro che segna una tappa importante per il settore e che costituisce la base tecnologica del test ZenPSA Pro di NIB biotec.

L’articolo presenta infatti una soluzione innovativa: un sensore colorimetrico capace di rilevare la concentrazione di zinco in acqua e, soprattutto, in campioni di urina senza necessità di strumenti complessi, di laboratori attrezzati o di personale specializzato. Un approccio che avvicina la diagnostica alla quotidianità delle persone—uno degli obiettivi principali della medicina di precisione moderna.

Perché lo zinco è così importante nelle urine?

Lo zinco è un oligoelemento essenziale, fondamentale per molte funzioni cellulari. Nel caso del tumore alla prostata, è noto da tempo che il tessuto prostatico sano accumula in grandi quantità questo metallo, mentre le cellule tumorali perdono progressivamente questa capacità.
Studi più recenti hanno dimostrato che questa alterazione si riflette anche nei livelli urinari di zinco, rendendo il suo dosaggio un potenziale marker non invasivo per la diagnosi e il monitoraggio della malattia.

Misurare lo zinco nelle urine con tecniche tradizionali, tuttavia, non è semplice: i metodi come AAS o ICP‑MS sono estremamente accurati, ma richiedono macchinari costosi e personale esperto. In altre parole, sono ottimi per la ricerca, ma poco adatti alla diagnosi rapida o a screening su larga scala.

Il sensore colorimetrico presentato nello studio offre una soluzione esattamente a questo problema.

Un test semplice: basta una goccia e il colore cambia

Il cuore del nuovo metodo è l’uso di dithizone (DTZ), un reagente che cambia colore quando entra in contatto con lo zinco: dal giallo‑arancio al rosso‑fucsia.
Immaginare il funzionamento del test è sorprendentemente facile: si deposita una goccia di urina su un piccolo supporto impregnato di DTZ, si aspetta qualche minuto, e si osserva la colorazione finale. Nessun lettore esterno, nessuna apparecchiatura, nessuna preparazione del campione.

Per rendere questo possibile, i ricercatori hanno ottimizzato:

  • la concentrazione del reagente, per garantire sensibilità e stabilità;
  • il tipo di materiale poroso, confrontando la risposta di diverse membrane tecniche;
  • il volume del campione e il tempo di lettura, per ottenere sempre lo stesso risultato anche nelle mani di utenti non esperti.

Il test nelle urine: risultati molto incoraggianti

La parte più attesa dello studio riguarda la prova su campioni reali di pazienti.
I ricercatori hanno selezionato 17 urine già analizzate tramite AAS e hanno verificato se il sensore colorimetrico fosse in grado di distinguere correttamente i campioni sopra o sotto il cut‑off diagnostico associato alla presenza di tumore alla prostata.

I risultati sono molto promettenti:

  • 100% di sensibilità analitica (nessun falso negativo rispetto all’AAS)
  • 94.1% di accuratezza complessiva
  • Concordanza quasi perfetta con il metodo di riferimento

In altre parole, il sensore riesce a identificare correttamente i campioni con livelli elevati o ridotti di zinco, con prestazioni paragonabili al metodo strumentale, pur essendo rapido, economico e utilizzabile ovunque.

Dal punto di vista diagnostico, considerando la correlazione con l’esito della biopsia, il test mostra una sensibilità dell’85.7% e una specificità del 70%—valori che, per un test preliminare non invasivo, sono molto significativi. È importante sottolineare che parte dell’errore deriva dalla naturale variabilità biologica vicino al cut‑off clinico, un tema comune a molti biomarcatori emergenti.

Perché questa pubblicazione è importante per ZenPSA Pro

Il successo del sensore colorimetrico rappresenta un elemento fondamentale nella validazione del test urinario ZenPSA Pro, sviluppato da NIB Biotec.
Questo studio dimostra infatti che:

  • è possibile rilevare rapidamente e senza strumenti lo zinco urinario;
  • i risultati sono affidabili e riproducibili nel tempo;
  • il test funziona su campioni reali, senza preparazioni o reagenti aggiuntivi;
  • i materiali utilizzati sono facilmente industrializzabili;
  • la piattaforma è stabile e con buona shelf‑life, un requisito fondamentale per la commercializzazione.

In altre parole, la ricerca scientifica ha confermato che il principio su cui si basa ZenPSA Pro non solo è valido, ma è anche maturo per un’applicazione reale.

Questo studio segna un passaggio chiave nella strada verso test diagnostici più semplici, accessibili e non invasivi.

Ridurre la dipendenza da procedure invasive come la biopsia, integrare strumenti rapidi nel percorso clinico e offrire screening più frequenti e sostenibili sono obiettivi ormai condivisi da tutta la comunità scientifica urologica.

Il sensore sviluppato e validato in questa pubblicazione mostra che è possibile trasformare un’idea in un dispositivo concreto e affidabile, e rappresenta la base tecnologica su cui NIB biotec sta costruendo ZenPSA Pro, un test che potrebbe cambiare il modo in cui monitoriamo la salute prostatica.

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NIB biotec in Vilnius: Prostate Cancer Prospects in Lithuania

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On Wednesday, March 18, we will be pleased to be guests of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN), one of the most active and dynamic investor communities in Northern Europe. It will be an important moment to present our project dedicated to non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer and strengthen collaborations in a country where cancer prevention represents a national health emergency.

LitBAN: The Lithuanian Ecosystem Where Innovation and Capital Meet

The Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN) is a rapidly growing network of entrepreneurs, professionals, and experts committed to supporting high-potential startups.

With over 4,000 startup applications received and more than €50 million invested in seven years, LitBAN has become a hub for innovation in the Baltics, promoting networking, mentorship, and syndicated investment to support new tech entrepreneurship.

Our meeting with this community represents the perfect opportunity to present a project with high social and health impact, capable of integrating urinary biomarkers, rapid screening tools, and early diagnosis models.

Prostate cancer in Lithuania: why we need to act now

Lithuania has higher incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer than the European average:

  • It is the most diagnosed cancer in men, with 3,208 new cases in 2022 alone according to GLOBOCAN data (source)
  • The incidence is significantly higher than the EU average, with rates reaching 182.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. (source)
  • Mortality remains high: 46.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to the European average of 32.1. (source)

These numbers confirm how more efficient screening and rapid diagnostic tools are today essential for early intervention and reducing the clinical and socioeconomic impact of the disease.

Lithuania is also the European country that is investing the most in developing an organized pathway for prostate cancer.

Dr. Aušvydas Patašius, urologist and researcher at the Nacionalinis Vėžio Centras (NVC) of Vilnius is in fact involved in the project PRAISE-U, in addition to conducting research in tumor epidemiology, PSA screening programs, and diagnostic pathways for urological oncology diseases.

PRAISE-U: A European initiative that changes the future of screening

Il programma europeo PRAISE-U (PRostate cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the EU) is redesigning the way Member States approach early diagnosis of prostate cancerCoordinated by the European Association of Urology, the project aims to:

  • develop personalized, risk-based screening protocols;
  • harmonize guidelines in European countries;
  • conduct pilot studies in several countries, including Lithuania, Poland, Ireland and Spain;
  • reduce late diagnoses and unnecessary interventions through a more targeted approach.

Dr. Patašius also represents Lithuania within the consortium, actively participating in the definition of performance indicators and clinical protocols to implement more effective screening nationwide.

Why NIB biotec's rapid urine test could be crucial for Lithuania

Our rapid test based on urinary biomarkers fits perfectly into the current needs of the Lithuanian healthcare system and the strategic objectives of PRAISE-U.

1. Support risk-based screening

Because PRAISE-U involves the use of PSA, risk stratification, and targeted imaging, a noninvasive, rapid, and repeatable test may represent a highly useful first screen for identifying men who should be referred for further investigation.

2. Reduces diagnostic waste and overtreatment

In the Lithuanian context, where PSA has led over the years to peaks in overdiagnosis and diagnoses of localized disease that are not always clinically relevant, a more specific biomarker may limit unnecessary biopsies and follow-ups.

3. Facilitates widespread and sustainable screening programs

Considering that Lithuania is the only country to have adopted a national PSA program since 2006, the introduction of a more targeted test can increase effectiveness and reduce costs in the long term.

An invitation to dialogue with investors, hospitals and research centers

Our mission is not limited to technological development: we want to build an international network that unites clinical research, investors, and healthcare systems to bring concrete solutions to the local community.

The meeting with LitBAN will be an opportunity to engage investors interested in health innovation, hospitals and research centers working in oncology diagnostics, and medical companies looking to collaborate on integrated solutions for treatment pathways.

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EAU Helmut Haas Award 2026 for Urine Test for Prostate Cancer

During the 41° Annual Congress of theEuropean Association of Urology (EAU), currently underway in London (13-16 March 2026,) Dr. Sabrina De Cillis, urologist of the Urology department of the hospital AOU San Luigi Gonzaga di Orbassano, led by Prof. Francesco Porpiglia (recently head of the Urology department of theIstituto di Candiolo – IRCCS), received theEAU Helmut Haas Award, one of the most important awards given by the EAU to works that contribute significantly to the development of outpatient urology.

The award ceremony took place during the meeting of the EAU Section of Outpatient and Office Urology, a forum dedicated to innovations that improve the efficiency, accessibility, and quality of daily clinical practice.

Who was Helmut Haas and why his award is so significant?

The award is named after Prof. Dr. Helmut Haas, a key figure in the founding of EAU Outpatient and the architect of the path that, in recent years, has led outpatient urology to become a structural component of modern healthcare organization.

Il premio viene assegnato ai lavori scientifici capaci di incidere sulle decisioni cliniche di tutti i giorni, introducendo strumenti che possono essere utilizzati direttamente negli ambulatori, nei consultori e negli studi urologici territoriali.

The EAU Commission's choice to award Prof. Porpiglia's group stems from the results of the study "A rapid dual-urine biomarker test for accurate prostate cancer risk stratification” in which the clinical results obtained with the rapid urinary test developed by NIB biotec, based on the combined detection of uPSA and uZinc, were presented.

The test was applied to men who were candidates for prostate biopsy, using a simple urine sample collected after prostate massage.

The technology allows you to obtain a risk score in just a few minutes that can indicate the presence of biomarkers associated with prostate cancer.

Summary of results: towards faster and more appropriate decisions

The results showed that the test has an excellent ability to recognize clinically significant tumors, detecting all high-risk cases and distinguishing with good accuracy from patients who do not show disease on biopsy.

Integrated with clinical information such as PSA, DRE and PIRADS, the test allowed us to refine the risk estimate, helping to avoid unnecessary biopsies without reducing diagnostic certainty.

A full description of the data is available in the article dedicated to the EAU 2026 abstracts: www.nibbiotec.com/news/eau26-prostata/.

The importance of outpatient urology and proximity diagnostics

The award-winning work comes at a time when urologists' outpatient practice is taking on an increasingly central role.

European healthcare systems are pushing toward care models that provide checks, screening, and initial diagnostics directly on the ground, with the aim of making the process faster and more accessible.

In this context, non-invasive, cost-effective tools that can be used directly in the medical office take on strategic value.

The ability to immediately obtain an indication of prostate cancer risk allows clinicians to make more targeted and timely decisions, improving diagnostic appropriateness and the quality of the patient's journey.

Because this award also represents a milestone for NIB Biotec

The awarding of the EAU Helmut Haas Award represents an important recognition not only for the scientific contribution of the study, but also for the research and development work carried out by NIB biotec.

This award authoritatively confirms our commitment to developing rapid diagnostic technologies based on urinary biomarkers, strengthening the company's mission: to bring innovative and truly usable tools into daily clinical practice to support early diagnosis and improve the management of prostate cancer.

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NIB biotec at the MedTech Innovator Radar Forum 2026

NIB biotec will participate in the MedTech Innovator Radar Forum 2026, scheduled for April 7-9 in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles. This event represents a key moment in the global medtech landscape, where select startups, investors, clinicians, and industry leaders meet to identify and grow technologies destined to transform the healthcare of the future.

An event that gets straight to the point: insights, partnering and pitch

The Radar Forum is a unique combination of conference, strategic partnering, and pitch session, structured to foster authentic and focused exchanges. There are no superficial presentations here: the discussion is direct and based on real evaluation criteria used by investors, strategists, and clinicians in their decision-making processes.

Thanks to the rigorous selection process carried out by MedTech Innovator, startups admitted to the Radar Forum have already passed an initial diligence phase, and their pitches focus on substance: how the technology addresses concrete clinical needs, how it can be adopted, what evidence there is, and what kind of impact it can have on the healthcare system.

The event's value is amplified by the presence of over 150 high-performance companies and a network of American clinicians and providers who offer valuable insights into the needs of patients and healthcare systems.

Why the Radar Forum is crucial for NIB biotech

Participation in the Radar Forum 2026 represents a strategic moment for NIB biotec in its internationalization journey. Our rapid urine test based on PSA and Zinc biomarkers was designed to be simple to use, low-cost, and suitable for use in decentralized settings.

These characteristics are particularly relevant in the US context, where socioeconomic barriers significantly impact access to early diagnosis and where there is a strong need for tools that can be used without expensive infrastructure or specialized expertise.

A pressing clinical need in the United States

In US, prostate cancer represents one of the main oncological challenges at the national level: according to the American Cancer Society, approximately 333,830 new cases are estimated in 2026, confirming it as one of the most common cancers among American men.

Adding to this already complex picture are significant challenges in access to care. The US healthcare system, largely based on private insurance coverage, creates significant inequality: those without adequate insurance often face financial barriers that limit access to even the most basic healthcare services, including screening and early diagnostic pathways. This situation amplifies the risk of many diagnoses being made late, when the disease is already advanced, with negative impacts on both clinical outcomes and long-term treatment costs.

At the same time, epidemiological differences persist between demographic groups: some populations, such as African-American men, already known for a higher incidence and a higher probability of developing aggressive forms of prostate cancer, continue to be more severely affected than the general population.

In a context where the combination of high disease burden, significant socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to reliable screening represent a structural problem, the availability of rapid, non-invasive, easy-to-use, and, above all, low-cost diagnostic tests becomes essential to reduce the gap and promote more equitable and earlier diagnosis.

Bringing Italian innovation to the heart of American medtech

For NIB biotec, the Radar Forum is a valuable opportunity to engage directly with American clinicians and providers, delving deeper into the needs of early prostate cancer diagnosis, explore partnerships with US investors and companies interested in disruptive technologies in the diagnostics sector, and enter the ecosystem of the world's largest medtech accelerator, MedTech Innovator, recognized for the impact of the startups it selects.

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At EAU 2026 the studies on urinary biomarkers for prostate cancer

The European Congress of Urology (EAU) is, every year, the most important scientific reference point for those involved in urology.

An event that attracts thousands of specialists, researchers, and clinicians from around the world, it represents a place where the most significant advances in the discipline are shared and future directions for clinical practice are defined.
This year, in London, the research group of Prof. Francesco Porpiglia of the San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital in Orbassano will bring two selected abstracts, both dedicated to the use of urinary biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and risk stratification of prostate cancer.

They will be presented by Dr. Sabrina De Cillis, a urologist at San Luigi and a member of the team that has been working on these topics for years with scientific rigor and great clinical vision.
We at NIB biotec are proud to have contributed to these projects by providing support for the development and validation of the tests, continuing our long-standing collaboration with the Urology Department.

1. The PSA paradox revealed by urine: less PSA, more risk

SESSION: Prostate cancer: Imaging, biopsy and targeted treatments
TITLE: Unveiling the Paradox: lower urinary PSA levels as a stronger indicator of Prostate Cancer risk compared to blood PSA elevation

A surprising, almost counter-current concept that is emerging with ever greater evidence: urinary PSA (uPSA) may be a more reliable indicator of cancer risk than the classic blood PSA.

Blood PSA has been a cornerstone of diagnostic workups for decades. When it increases, it immediately suggests possible prostate cancer. However, in everyday clinical practice, most PSA elevations are due to prostatitis, benign enlargements, or other non-cancerous conditions.

And the paradox lies right here:
Prostate cancer, when it develops, reduces the ability of cells to produce PSA.
In fact, inside the prostate, a healthy gland contains a lot of PSA, while tumor tissue contains less and less.

Why then does PSA increase in the blood?
Because the tumor destroys the architecture of the gland and the PSA – although produced in smaller quantities – leaks more easily into the bloodstream.

Urine, on the other hand, reflects exactly what is happening inside the prostate.

The results of the study

The study conducted at San Luigi on 200 patients showed that:

  • urinary PSA decreases markedly as the severity of the tumor increases;
  • distinguishes healthy subjects from sick ones better than traditional parameters;
  • shows a superior diagnostic performance to blood PSA (AUC 0.72 vs. 0.50);
  • integrated with the MRI results it reaches an AUC of 0.82, very close to that of the most advanced tests available today.

A result that suggests that uPSA could become a new non-invasive screening tool, simple, biologically consistent and more accurate in selecting men truly at risk.

2. A rapid test based on PSA and Zinc: towards a new era of "proximity" screening

Session: Advances in prostate cancer management
Title: A Rapid Dual-Urine Biomarker Test for Accurate Prostate Cancer Risk Stratification

An even more immediate tool for clinical practice: a rapid urine test that combines PSA and zinc, designed to be used anywhere – in the hospital, in the doctor's office, and even in the family doctor's office.

The idea arises from two consolidated findings:

  • a healthy prostate releases high levels of PSA into the urine;
  • Tumor cells progressively lose the ability to retain zinc, with a sharp drop in its levels.

The test uses both signals and assigns a simple score (0–2) that indicates whether the biomarkers are normal, altered, or both altered.

What emerges from the study

In the prospective study of men with indication for prostate biopsy:

  • 100% of ISUP 4–5 tumors had a score of 1 or 2;
  • almost half of the biopsy-negative subjects had a score of 0;
  • integrating the score with PSA, DRE and MRI results in a very effective triage algorithm;
  • Most importantly: No high-risk patient is misclassified as low-risk.

A result that opens up very interesting prospects for a faster, less invasive and more accessible diagnosis.
This type of test can reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, facilitate screening in areas with less access to advanced diagnostics, improve patient adherence thanks to its simplicity and low cost, and enhance the activity of community clinics.

Bringing innovation to the heart of international urology

Attending EAU 2026 is not just a scientific achievement: it's an opportunity to share with the international community the results of research that truly aims to improve patients' lives.

For us at NIB biotec, who supported these studies by accompanying them throughout the technical and analytical phases, it is a source of great pride to be able to contribute to bringing Italian innovation to such a prestigious stage.

London will be the ideal place to publicize these findings and initiate new collaborations, with a single goal: to make prostate cancer diagnosis more accurate, less invasive, and more accessible to all.

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Cancer screening is being reviewed in Brussels

The European Cancer Screening and Early Detection Policy Summit, scheduled for 17–18 February 2026 in Brussels and online, represents one of the most important events in the European panorama dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection.

The event, organised by the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), brings together experts, researchers, policy makers and patient representatives to discuss the results of the main European screening programmes and define strategies for their large-scale implementation (source).

A renewed European agenda to save lives through early diagnosis

Over the past three years, the European Union has redefined its priorities for cancer screening, with the aim of strengthening programs capable of detecting cancer in its early stages and significantly reducing mortality.

This new political momentum has led to the launch of three pilot projects funded under the EU4Health programme: PRAISE-U (prostate), SOLACE (lung) and TOGAS (stomach).

The Summit will be a key opportunity to present the results of these projects, discuss the evidence gathered, and chart the course for the adoption of new screening programs at the national level.

Advances in prostate cancer screening and the role of PRAISE-U

The prostate cancer is one of the most common in Europe, and the lack of a uniform screening program has for years represented an obstacle to early diagnosis.

The PRAISE-U project aims to fill this gap by proposing a personalized, sustainable and individual risk-based approach, combining advanced diagnostic algorithms and targeted clinical assessment strategies (source).

What PRAISE-U has achieved so far

Findings to be presented at the Summit include:

  • More accurate risk assessment models by integrating clinical factors, biomarkers, and next-generation predictive tools.
  • Personalized diagnostic pathways, which reduce the use of unnecessary tests and improve the ability to identify clinically significant tumors.
  • Guidelines for the implementation of national programs, adaptable to the health systems of different European countries.

PRAISE-U represents a decisive step towards more effective screening, capable of moving beyond the traditional approach based exclusively on PSA and oriented towards more sophisticated predictive models.

Towards the implementation of screening programs

The Summit will not only be an opportunity to observe the results achieved, but also to:

  • define policy recommendations that keep early diagnosis at the heart of the European agenda;
  • promote the exchange of experiences between the actors involved in the various projects;
  • prepare the transition from the pilot to structured implementation in member countries.

With the participation of high-profile institutional figures, such as former European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides, the event represents a turning point for the construction of a new European infrastructure dedicated to cancer screening.

NIB biotec at the Summit: Building Partnerships for the Future of Prostate Screening

As NIB biotec, we will be present at the Summit to meet the groups involved in the pilot prostate cancer screening programs active in Spain, Lithuania, Poland

Our goal is to initiate collaborations that integrate innovative tools and new scientific evidence into future screening pathways, contributing to the development of more effective and personalized strategies for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

This event represents a unique opportunity to strengthen our European network and advance our mission: making early diagnosis more accessible, accurate, and equitable for all.

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NIB biotec on stage at the Longevity World Forum 2026

NIB biotec is among the eight startups selected by the scientific committee of the Longevity World Forum (LWF) 2026 as one of the projects with the greatest potential to extend life expectancy and promote truly healthy aging.

The appointment is from 18 to 20 February 2026 at La Nave, Madrid, during one of the most authoritative international conferences dedicated to longevity, preventive health and the technologies that are redefining the future of medicine (official page).

An event that unites science, technology and the future of health

The Longevity World Forum is recognized as one of the leading global summits on healthy aging. It brings together world-class researchers, clinicians, biotech companies, investors, and innovation professionals to explore the latest advances in fields such as geroscience, biomarkers, regenerative medicine, advanced prevention, and AI applied to health.

The 2026 edition features a rich program, divided into three main areas: science, trends, and entrepreneurship, with international keynote speakers and a strong focus on emerging technologies, from biomarkers of aging to personalized medicine based on genetics, metabolomics, and artificial intelligence.

In this highly selective context, the LWF has identified eight startups with solutions considered particularly promising in the field of prevention, early diagnosis and tissue regeneration, using technologies such as AI, genetics, microbiota, 3D bioprinting and biomarkers (link).

The official selection: NIB biotec among the eight most promising projects

Among the eight finalist startups, NIB biotec was selected thanks to our non-invasive urinary test for the advanced diagnosis of prostate cancer, based on proprietary molecular biomarkers.

The other finalist startups address topics such as neuroscience-based digital longevity, predictive genetics, advanced imaging for atherosclerosis, microbiota metagenomics, cellular sensors, and 3D solutions for regeneration and orthopedics. This places our project in a world of elite innovation, demonstrating the international interest in truly transformative preventive and diagnostic solutions.

What NIB biotec will present at the Longevity World Forum 2026

During the pitch to investors, researchers, and stakeholders in the longevity sector, we will present our technology, which enables the early identification of patients at risk of prostate cancer, improving the diagnostic process and redefining access to active surveillance programs and personalized treatments.

Early diagnosis of prostate cancer is one of the most effective interventions for increasing not only life expectancy but, above all, the quality of life of men over 50, directly contributing to the key objectives of the Longevity World Forum.

Why our solution makes the difference

The selection at LWF recognizes NIB Biotec's potential to:

  • respond to an unmet clinical need, such as the accurate and non-invasive diagnosis of prostate cancer;
  • reduce the use of unnecessary biopsies, reducing costs, times and impact on the patient;
  • accelerate the clinical decision-making process, thanks to an objective and measurable biomarker;
  • promote accessible precision medicine, based on rapid tests that can be easily integrated into the clinical pathway.

As LWF Director Francisco Larrey emphasized, the competition's goal is to highlight early-stage projects with high potential, capable of making a real impact on global health.

A step forward on our journey

Being selected as a finalist represents significant recognition of our team's work and the scientific validity of our research. It is also an important opportunity to present our project to an international audience of experts, investors, and strategic partners, consolidating our role among the most innovative players in the European longevity and cancer prevention landscape.

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NIB biotec at the Health.tech Global Summit 2026

NIB biotec will exhibit at theHealth.tech Global Summit 2026, which will take place from 3 to 5 March 2026 at Messe Basel, in the heart of the European life sciences ecosystem.
The event represents one of the most important international gatherings dedicated to healthcare innovation, bringing together startups, companies, investors, researchers, and decision makers from around the world.

A global event at the heart of European Life Sciences

The Health.tech Global Summit is recognized as a benchmark for the digital transformation of healthcare. The 2026 edition will see the participation of over 5,000 professionals, 250 exhibiting companies, and 400 investors from over 60 countries.
The summit will focus on strategic topics for the future of the sector, including prevention and personalized health, next-generation therapeutic development, modernization of care models, AI and digital health applied to patient management and diagnostic pathways.

The choice of Basel is no coincidence: the city is recognized as one of the world's leading life sciences hubs, home to companies like Roche and Novartis, and a hub for research, technology, and healthcare innovation. As the organizers stated, “Basel is the global hub for life science. And this is exactly where this summit belongs.”

A strategic platform for the most innovative companies

The event, organized as a summit+expo, will offer three days of conferences on four thematic stages, workshops, masterclasses and live demos, startup competitions and spaces dedicated to networking.

NIB Biotec will have its own booth in the exhibition area dedicated to innovative biotech, medtech, and healthtech companies. This will allow us to showcase our diagnostic solutions based on urinary biomarkers and engage with strategic clinical and industrial partners and investors.

An opportunity to tell our innovation

Participation in the summit represents an important step in our growth journey. Following NIB biotec's recent achievements, including the development of urinary biomarkers in prostate cancer and its presence at scientific and international events, Basel 2026 will be a key opportunity to showcase the results of our work and the potential of our technology.

We look forward to meeting with researchers, clinicians, investors, and partners to share our vision and discuss how our diagnostic tests can be integrated into next-generation cancer prevention and surveillance pathways.

We look forward to seeing you in Basel!

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NIB biotec selezionata per Get it!

Un passo avanti verso screening equi e accessibili per il tumore alla prostata

NIB biotec è tra i 7 team selezionati per i Percorsi di Valore del programma di accelerazione Get it!programme, promoted by Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore in partnership with Cariplo Factory. Un traguardo che riconosce la rilevanza del nostro progetto e rafforza la nostra missione: rendere equo, accessibile e sostenibile lo screening del tumore alla prostata.

La Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore

Get it! è un programma di empowerment e impact investment readiness che dal 2017 sostiene idee e startup capaci di generare modelli di business sostenibili, ad alto impatto sociale e investibili in ottica di impact investing.

La Fondazione Social Venture Giordano Dell’Amore (FSVGDA) è il braccio strategico e operativo di Fondazione Cariplo nell’ambito dell’impact investing: una realtà che favorisce la crescita di imprese e iniziative con un beneficio misurabile per la società, attraverso percorsi di incubazione/accelerazione, mentorship e investimenti dedicati.

Nell’edizione 2025 (seconda Call for Impact della quarta edizione), sono pervenute 115 candidature, con una forte partecipazione dal Nord Italia (60%), seguita da Centro (18%), Sud e estero (4%).

Perché l’impatto sociale conta (e perché conta per NIB biotec)

L’impact investing mette al centro la misurabilità dell’impatto sociale/ambientale insieme alla sostenibilità economica. Non si tratta solo di “fare bene” mentre si “fa impresa”, ma di progettare soluzioni che riducano disuguaglianze, migliorino l’accesso ai servizi e generino valore duraturo per persone e comunità.

Per NIB biotec, l’impatto sociale è concreto: abbiamo sviluppato un rapid test, non invasivo e a basso costo, progettato come dispositivo point‑of‑care. La nostra soluzione migliora l’identificazione degli uomini a rischio di tumore alla prostata, contribuendo a ridurre biopsie non necessarie, con benefici sulla qualità di vita e sull’efficienza dei sistemi sanitari.
In pratica, significa portare lo screening vicino alle persone, in contesti di medicina territoriale e aree meno servite, abbattendo barriere economiche e logistiche. È questa l’idea di equità dell’accesso che guida il nostro lavoro.

Come NIB Biotec si allinea all’Agenda ONU 2030

Il nostro progetto risponde in modo diretto ad alcuni Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile (SDGs):

  • SDG 3 – Salute e Benessere: favoriamo lo screening precoce, miglioriamo l’accesso ai servizi (3.8) e contribuiamo a ridurre la mortalità e morbilità da patologie non trasmissibili.
  • SDG 10 – Riduzione delle disuguaglianze: rendiamo più equo l’accesso a test diagnostici essenziali, indipendentemente da reddito o geografia.
  • SDG 9 – Imprese, Innovazione e Infrastrutture: promuoviamo ricerca e innovazione applicata alla salute, con una soluzione scalabile e integrabile nei percorsi di cura.
  • SDG 17 – Partnership per gli obiettivi: collaboriamo con ospedali, università, fondazioni e incubatori, creando alleanze per accelerare l’impatto.

Le realtà selezionate insieme a noi

Siamo orgogliosi di condividere la selezione con altre iniziative ad alto impatto:

  • Bravo! (Ravenna) – una piattaforma che rafforza engagement and team building a impatto sociale, co-progettando esperienze con enti non profit.
  • Geen.ai (Catania) – un copilot conversazionale di triage che traduce il linguaggio quotidiano in azioni e percorsi, generando dashboard anonime per riprogettare servizi e benefit.
  • IntelligEarth (Roma) – con proteGO, integra citizen science, AI and tecnologie geospaziali: un’app certifica la raccolta dati e un motore AI analizza le immagini.
  • Mykes (Milano) – un ecosistema digitale e territoriale per i primi 1.000 giorni: orientamento ai servizi, community e percorsi formativi per genitorialità consapevole.
  • O‑DAMP (Bologna) – un sistema brevettato di protezione rotazionale per caschi, basato su materiali non newtoniani che dissipano l’energia degli urti obliqui.
  • Trainect (Roma) – IRIS, piattaforma integrata per il benessere aziendale con Wellbeing Analytics, formazione e app per rilevare bisogni e misurare l’impatto.

Insieme, raccontiamo un’Italia che innova con responsabilità and visione.

Cosa prevede il percorso Get it!

I team selezionati potranno:

  • accedere a incubazione/accelerazione, consulenza e mentorship per un valore complessivo di circa €30.000;
  • concorrere per un investimento da €50.000 o €100.000 da parte di FSVGDA nel corso dell’Investor Day (seconda metà 2026).

Per NIB biotec questo significa accelerare sul go to market, consolidare validazioni cliniche, estendere le partnership e lavorare alla scalabilità del nostro dispositivo point‑of‑care.

Il nostro impegno: uno screening più vicino, semplice e giusto

L’innovazione ha valore quando raggiunge le persone. Continueremo a collaborare con clinici, strutture sanitarie, enti di ricerca e policy‑makers per integrare il nostro test nei percorsi diagnostici e nella medicina territoriale, contribuendo a sistemi sanitari più sostenibili e inclusivi.

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