The Company

MiWEndo Solutions was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (HCB), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA). The idea originated from the collaboration between Marta Guardiola, an electrical engineer, and Gloria Fernández Esparrach, a gastroenterologist and endoscopy specialist from HCB. By combining their expertise in microwave technology and gastroenterology, their mission is to revolutionize the technology for detecting colorectal cancer, one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide.

The MiWEndo system is currently at TRL 7. It has been validated in preclinical studies and a pilot clinical trial, "MiWEndo I" (N=15), to assess its feasibility and safety, achieving excellent results:

Cecal intubation: 100%
Safety: No adverse events
Patient comfort: Good
Compatibility and ease of use with colonoscopy: Complete
Additionally, its efficacy has been thoroughly demonstrated in preclinical models (ex vivo, phantoms, and porcine models), achieving high sensitivity and specificity in polyp detection. Preliminary results in patients confirm the robustness observed in preclinical trials. Currently, we are expanding the patient database through the "MiWEndo II" clinical trial (N=65) to further strengthen the evidence.

MiWEndo has also submitted its technical documentation for evaluation by the notified body as part of the process to obtain CE certification. This crucial step brings the device closer to commercialization in Europe, with approval expected by 2025.

• Torres Quevedo, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI). (PTQ2023-012936). 2023
• KIT DIGITAL. Gobierno de España (2023/C005/01416918). 2023
• Activa Startups (ATS_PYME_003). 2022
• Doctorat Industrial. AGAUR (2022 DI 018). 2022
• Eurostars CDTI , Programa Marco de Investigación e Innovación Horizonte Europa de la Unión Europea (CIIP-20221021). 2022
  Este proyecto ha recibido financiación del programa conjunto Eurostars-3 con cofinanciación de CDTI y del Programa Marco de Investigación e Innovación Horizonte Europa de la Unión Europea.

• Crea Feina Barcelona. Barcelona Activa. 2021
• Proyectos en Colaboración Público-Privada). MIC/AEI, Unión Europea Next GenerationEU/PRTR. (CPP2021/008536). 2021.
  MiWEndo Solutions ha recibido financiación para llevar a cabo el proyecto CPP2021/008536 – Disruptive technologies for early detection of colorectal cancer – TEDCRC” por MIC/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por la Unión Europea Next GenerationEU/PRTR

• SME Fund. EUIPO. 2021
• EIC Accelerator. European Commission. (Grant Agreement No. 960251). 2020.
• Doctorado industrial. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. (DIN2019-010857). 2020
• EIT Health Headstart. EIT Health. (ID 2020-HS-0067). 2020
• Desarrollo Tecnológico en Salud (DTS). Instituto de Salud Carlos. (DTS17/00090). 2018
• IC Producte. AGAUR, FEDER. (2016 PROD 00048). 2017
• Caixaimpulse. Obra Social Fundación la Caixa. (CI16-00058). 2016
• IC Llavor. AGAUR, FEDER. (2014 LLAV 00016). 2015

• EP 3 195 786 A1
• E 16152033 ES
• E 16152033 IT
• E 16152033 FR
• E 16152033 DE
• E 16152033 GB
• JP6815405 (B2)
• US11337618B2
• WO2024023319 A1

• New concept of colonoscopy assisted by a microwave-based accessory device: first clinical experience. G. Fernández-Esparrach, O. Ortiz, O. Sendino, S. Rivadulla, J. Sanahuja, G. Martínez-Pallí, A. Garrido-Atienza, L. M. Neira, R. Sont, J. Llach, M. Pellise, M. Guardiola. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 97 (6), AB742. 2023
• Preclinical Evaluation of a Microwave-Based Accessory Device for Colonoscopy in an In Vivo Porcine Model with Colorectal Polyps. A. Garrido-Atienza, M. Guardiola, L. M. Neira, R. Sont, H. Córdova, M. Cuatrecasas, K. Flisikowski, J. Troya, J. Sanahuja, T. Winogrodzki, et al. Cancers 15(12). 2023. doi: 10.3390/cancers15123122. PMID: 37370732; PMCID: PMC10296672.
• MiWEndo: Evaluation of a Microwave Colonoscopy Algorithm for Early Colorectal Cancer Detection in Ex Vivo Human Colon Models. M. Guardiola, W. Dghoughi, R. Sont, A. Garrido-Atienza, S. Marcoval, L. M. Neira, I. Belda, G. Fernández-Esparrach. Sensors. 22(13):4902 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/s22134902
• Microwave-Based Colonoscopy: Preclinical Evaluation in an Ex Vivo Human Colon Model. G. Fernández-Esparrach, A. Garrido-Atienza, R. Sont, W. Dghoughi, S. Marcoval, M. Cuatrecasas, S. López-Prades, F. B. de Lacy, M. Pellisé, I. Belda, M. Guardiola. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2022 Jan 28;2022:9522737. doi: 10.1155/2022/9522737. PMID: 35126510; PMCID: PMC8816597.
• Automatic Polyp Detection Using Microwave Endoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Early Detection: Phantom Validation. A. Garrido-Atienza, R. Sont, W. Dghoughi, S. Marcoval, J. Romeu, G. Fernández-Esparrach, I. Belda, M. Guardiola. IEEE Access, 9:148048-148059. 2021. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3124019.
• Design and Evaluation of an Antenna Applicator for a Microwave Colonoscopy System. M. Guardiola, K. Djafri, M. Challal, M. A. González Ballester, G. Fernandez-Esparrach, O. Camara, J.Romeu. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, 67(8): 4968-4977. 2019. doi: 10.1109/TAP.2019.2896703.
• Dielectric properties of colon polyps, cancer, and normal mucosa: Ex vivo measurements from 0.5 to 20 GHz. M. Guardiola, S. Buitrago, G. Fernández-Esparrach, J. M. O'Callaghan, J. Romeu, M. Cuatrecasas, H. Córdova, M. A. González Ballester, O. Camara. Med Phys. 2018 May 28. doi: 10.1002/mp.13016. PMID: 29807391.

• Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award. U.S. National Academy of Medicine (“NAM”), Johnson & Johnson Innovation. 2020
• Sello Pyme Innovadora. 2020
• Societat Catalana de Biologia category Startup Award. Societat Catalana de Biologia. 2020
• Finalist EAE Impact Awards (4YFN). EAE. 2023
• Salvà i Campillo Award. Col·legi de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya. 2022
• Pyme del año XV Award. Premis Carles Ferrer Salat. Foment del Treball. 2022
• Jóvenes Investigadores 2021 "Juan López de Peñalver" medal Award. Real Academia de Ingeniería. 2021
• I Campus Clínic Innovation Awards. Fundació Vila Casas, Leitat i iVascular. 2021
  DWF - RCD Award.
• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs. Foment del Treball, el Gobierno de Aragón y el Consulado General de los Estados Unidos en Barcelona. 2021
• Josemi Azkoitia Award. EIT Health. 2020
• NAM Health Longevity Quickfire Challenge 2020. National Association of Medicine and Johnson and Johnson. 2022
• Dona Tic 2020 Award (Marta Guardiola). Generalitat de Catalunya. 2020
• Finalist "The Spinoff Prize" Nature. 2020
• Semifinalists in Fundación Mapfre Awards a la Innovación Social 2020 en Europa. Fundación Mapfre. 2020
• Brightlands Award. Brightlands Innovation Factory. 2020
• Recognition as a Social Company by the Ship2B Foundation. Fundación Ship2B. 2019
• Exemplary EU Cohesion Policy Project. European Commission.2019
• 3rd prize for good practices of co-financed actions by representatives of the GERIP/GRECO-AGE. Ministerio de Hacienda y Función Pública. 2017
• Recognition of Good Practices of co-financed actions by the monitoring Committee of the FEDER Operational Program (PO-FEDER) of Catalonia 2014-2020. Ministerio de Hacienda y Función Pública. 2017
• UPF Social Council Award for Knowledge Transfer 2016. Social Council UPF. 2016

• Company operates under a quality management system according to the standards ISO 13485 on medical devices.
• MiWEndo has successfully passed a pilot clinical investigation of 15 patients, and we are now initiating a pivotal study involving 50 patients.
• Regulatory market release for EU and US market is in process.
• Initially, MiWendo Solutions will develop and launch a novel endoscopy accessory medical device based on microwave technology targeting colorectal cancer early detection, with the final aim of reducing its incidence and mortality.