Health Innovation
Infection Testing and Treatment: 6 Startups to Watch in 2026
DealBio tracks early-stage health and life sciences startups across Europe. These six address distinct problems in infection testing, treatment decisions and the development of new therapies.
- Infectious Disease
- Diagnostics
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Therapeutics
Finding an infection and choosing an appropriate treatment require different evidence. A positive pathogen test may identify an organism without showing antibiotic susceptibility; an antibiotic-resistance prediction may support a decision without replacing the laboratory. Meanwhile, research assays and experimental treatments address different parts of the challenge. The six startups below illustrate these distinct routes.
At a Glance
- Baio-dxFrance2022Microbiology plate reading
- AerisSpain2026Hospital antibiotic decision support
- DimiCare BiotechFrance2026Precision antibacterial programme
- Hermione TherapeuticsFrance2025Inhaled antibiofilm programme
- ExhalonFrance2025Breath-based respiratory testing
- AnalectoSweden2024HIV reservoir research assays
01
Baio-dx
Automating bacterial identification and antibiotic-susceptibility plate reading
- Country
France- Founded
- 2022
- Sector
- Diagnostics
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
- Founders
Why Baio-dx stands out
Baio-dx combines imaging research, protected intellectual property and an experienced founding team. Its prototype identified 201 of 232 clinical isolates after 18 hours of incubation across 10 trained species, with 96.5% agreement among assigned results. The startup also holds licences to four CEA patents and has worked with Grenoble Alpes University Medical Center on prototype testing. Co-founders Stéphane Buisson and Jordan Belissard previously built Canopus AI, acquired by Siemens in January 2026.
What Baio-dx is building
Baio-dx uses holographic imaging and AI to automate identification of bacteria growing on agar and reading of antibiotic-susceptibility plates. Its design fits culture-based microbiology: the laboratory grows organisms and can then investigate their identity and response to antibiotics.
02
Aeris
Developing AI to predict antibiotic resistance and guide hospital treatment
- Country
Spain- Founded
- 2026
- Sector
- Digital health
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
Why Aeris stands out
Aeris won Innomakers4Health 2024, organised by Pfizer, Fundación Pfizer and Wayra, and subsequently joined the BIC Gipuzkoa programme and healthstart madri+d. These programmes connect its hospital-focused antibiotic resistance platform with health-innovation networks and venture-development support.
What Aeris is building
The system draws on hospital records, microbiology trends and antibiotic-use indicators to estimate resistance risk and provide alerts for clinical teams. Its patient-level alerts are designed to give hospital teams additional information when evaluating antibiotic choices and local resistance patterns.
Developing precision antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria
- Country
- France
- Founded
- 2026
- Sector
- Biotech
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
Why DimiCare Biotech stands out
DimiCare Biotech has in vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept work dating from development that began in 2023. It won i-Lab 2025 recognition, originated from research at Université Côte d’Azur, Inserm and CNRS, and joined the Provence-Côte d'Azur Business Incubator. The research provides the scientific foundation for its early-stage antibacterial development programme.
What DimiCare Biotech is building
The lead programme targets Staphylococcus aureus in drug-resistant infections. DimiCare aims to develop targeted antibiotics that spare beneficial microbes and reduce selection for resistance. Its precision approach addresses the challenge of designing antibacterial medicines around defined organisms.
Developing inhaled therapy to disperse bacterial biofilms in lung infections
- Country
- France
- Founded
- 2025
- Sector
- Biotech
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
- Founders
Why Hermione Therapeutics stands out
In preclinical in vivo experiments, ANP together with tobramycin reduced bacterial burden compared with antibiotic treatment alone. The programme originated in University of Rouen Normandie research, with maturation funding in 2022. The founding team combines bacterial-biofilm research and prior pharmaceutical leadership.
What Hermione Therapeutics is building
Hermione is developing inhaled ANP, a human peptide, to disperse protective bacterial biofilms and assist antibiotic action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections associated with COPD and bronchiectasis. A biofilm is a microbial community held within a protective matrix. The programme is being developed as an inhaled treatment used alongside antibiotics.
05
Exhalon
Developing breath-based tests for respiratory infections
- Country
- France
- Founded
- 2025
- Sector
- Diagnostics
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
Why Exhalon stands out
Exhalon received a US$ 1 million CARB-X grant to develop breath diagnostics. A 2023 founding study using breath analysis plus clinical data reported 98% sensitivity and 74% specificity for COVID-19 screening under cross-validation. The results provide a defined foundation for Exhalon's ongoing work on breath-based respiratory testing. The research came from Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm and UVSQ, with clinical-founder expertise from Foch Hospital.
What Exhalon is building
Exhalon applies mass spectrometry and AI to molecules in exhaled air to develop tests for respiratory infections and provide biomarker-discovery services. Mass spectrometry identifies chemical signals by analysing charged molecules. The platform combines breath-chemistry measurements and computational analysis in a prospective diagnostic workflow.
06
Analecto
Developing tests to measure HIV reservoirs in infected cells
- Country
Sweden- Founded
- 2024
- Sector
- Diagnostics
- Funding stage
- Seed or earlier
- Founders
- Peter Svensson
- Ulrika Sjödin
- Jonatan Skärling
Why Analecto stands out
Analecto has analysed initial patient materials to optimise CADseq. Its associated research project received SEK 3 million from Vinnova, coordinated by Karolinska Institutet, and the startup joined KI Innovations' incubator. The founding team combines the underlying scientific invention with clinical and commercial experience.
What Analecto is building
CADseq combines CRISPR/Cas DNA cutting with sequencing to detect foreign DNA integrated into human cells, initially focusing on HIV. HIV reservoirs are infected cells that persist despite suppression of active viral replication. Analecto is developing a research service, followed by a kit, for HIV cure research and drug development.