UK-based medtech company, OMED Health, has launched a workplace pilot with Aviva plc (LON: AV), one of the United Kingdom’s largest insurers.
Announced on Tuesday, the initiative aims to measure how OMED’s technology can improve employee well being and productivity by tackling gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, which are a leading cause of absenteeism and reduced work performance.
The six month study will involve 75 Aviva employees who will receive access to OMED Health Plans, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered service that provides customized treatment and dietary programs. Participants will consult with licensed Owlstone Medical doctors and use OMED’s handheld Breath Analyzer to track progress. The Analyzer measures gases linked to the gut microbiome, while a companion mobile app collects dietary and symptom data to guide personalized care.
Before and after the pilot, participants will complete surveys to assess changes in gut health, quality of life, and productivity. The company hopes to demonstrate that early detection and at-home management of GI issues can reduce unnecessary doctor visits and healthcare costs.
This collaboration supports the National Health Service’s “Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England.” Additionally, the program encourages prevention-focused, digital-first, and community-based healthcare. The program could help relieve pressure on the NHS while improving workplace health outcomes through integration of remote diagnostics.
Owlstone Medical CEO Billy Boyle said the company designed OMED Health for digestive care through breath-based diagnostics and clinical support. He added the firm’s goal is integrate this solution as part of standard medical practice through licensed partners.
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Breath based diagnosis on the rise
Aviva has increasingly invested in health focused initiatives for employees. Meanwhile, Owlstone Medical continues to expand applications for its proprietary breath analysis technology. This could also eventually play a broader role in preventive medicine and workplace health management.
Biotechnology focus on using the breath for diagnostic purposes has been on the rise in recent years.
One prominent player is Breath Diagnostics, Inc., a Louisville based firm that developed its patented OneBreath platform to detect diseases through a single exhaled breath. The company reports promising results from patient trials, showing over 90 per cent accuracy in identifying lung cancer. Its technology also shows potential in predicting pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses by analyzing volatile organic compounds in breath samples.
Another company is NIOX Group plc (AIM: NIOX), a UK-based firm that produces point of care devices for asthma diagnosis and monitoring. Its flagship device, NIOX VERO, measures fractional exhaled nitric oxide to assess airway inflammation. Further, it helps clinicians tailor treatments more effectively. The company continues to expand its recurring consumables business as demand for non invasive testing grows.
Among startups, BreathDx.ai is developing a micro-gas chromatography test to identify early signs of disease through breath signatures. Similarly, Breathomix, a Dutch firm, is advancing its BreathBase eNose technology to diagnose cancer and inflammatory conditions.
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