Sepset Biosciences Inc. is a molecular diagnostics company developing a first-in-class in vitro diagnostic assay for the early and rapid risk assessment for sepsis. This novel assay is based on the detection of a unique sepsis gene expression signature based on the dysfunctional immune response rather than the presence of a pathogen.

This technology has tremendous commercial potential since sepsis is one of the most expensive conditions for hospitals to treat and current methods of diagnosis (including blood cultures) can take more than 24 hours and are not very accurate in identifying early sepsis. Sepsis causes the hospitalization of more than 49 million people around the world every year, including ~170,000 Canadians (Farrah, 2021). It has a staggering 23-30% mortality rate (leading to 19.7% of all deaths) while leaving most survivors suffering from long-term, physical and physiological effects (post-sepsis syndrome). The total cost of treating sepsis in the USA amounts to $24 billion per year.