Salignostics’ Saliva-Based Pregnancy Test to Be Sold at Boots – UK’s Leading Health and Beauty Retailer

Jerusalem-based startup Salignostics has announced that Salistick, the world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test, will be sold at Boots, Britain’s leading health and beauty retailer, under the Boots brand. The test, which launched in March in Israel at the Super-Pharm chain, will be sold in Boots’ pharmacies and online stores. Boots has been around for 175 years and is operating approximately 2,100 stores ranging from local pharmacies to large stores in central cities.

This new move further expands Salistick’s penetration of the UK market, supported by the exclusive distributor of the innovative pregnancy test in the UK and Ireland, Abingdon Health (AIM: ABDX). In the UK alone, Abingdon has delivered over 100,000 Salistick pregnancy tests in recent months. Salistick was also launched in the second half of 2023 in Ireland and Sweden, receiving enthusiastic responses.

Salistick is a groundbreaking pregnancy test in a field that until now was based on urine tests only. It is easy to use, more pleasant compared to the traditional pregnancy tests, and has high accuracy from the day after the missed period. Salistick is based on a saliva sample, which is easily and aesthetically collected using a “stick”. It can be performed simply and comfortably, anywhere and at any time, and with whoever you want – your spouse, or any other person. Salistick has been selected as one of TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023. In addition, Dr. Raluca Cohen, one of the company’s co-founders and its Chief Scientific Officer, was selected for the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health list.

The test offers a superior user experience without compromising accuracy and reliability. It delivers accurate results from the estimated date of menstruation, similar to traditional pregnancy tests conducted using a urine sample. Salistick has received approval from the Ministry of Health in Israel and the European Union (CE). Salignostics manufactures its products in a factory located in the Lavon industrial area in the Galilee. Despite the challenges faced during wartime, the company has continued its activities, including the production and launch of Salistick.

According to market research by Arizton, The global market for pregnancy tests was estimated to be worth $1.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to approximately $2.3 billion by 2028, with an annual growth rate of around 5%. In Israel, the market for pregnancy tests was estimated at about 20 million shekels in 2022, with approximately one million pregnancy tests sold in the country each year.

Dr. Guy Krief, co-founder and deputy CEO of Salignostics, said: “The launch of Salistick in a powerful chain like Boots is another milestone in our ongoing momentum in Europe in general and the UK in particular. Boots is the leading health and beauty retailer in the UK, and the fact that it will offer a saliva-based pregnancy test under its own brand will improve the familiarity, trust, and adoption of the women who will purchase Salistick.”

Salignostics, founded in 2017 by a team of postdocs from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has extensive experience in decoding the secrets of saliva. The company’s founders include Prof. Aharon Palmon, a renowned saliva researcher who also serves as the university’s Vice President for R&D, as well as Dr. Omer Deutsch (CEO), Dr. Guy Krief (Deputy CEO), Dr. Raluca Cohen (Chief Scientific Officer), and Dr. Yoav Neumann (Senior Researcher). Hagai Dror, a former senior official at the Israeli Ministry of Health, has joined Salignostics as Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer. Throughout the development process, the company secured funding in the pre-seed and seed stages from private investors and received a grant from the American Health Organization (NIH) as well as four grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority.

Salignostics’ technology is the result of decades of scientific research. Among the products developed and manufactured by Salignostics are rapid tests based on saliva samples for COVID-19 testing. The company is currently developing saliva-based tests to identify the streptococcus bacteria that causes respiratory tract infections. This product is planned to be part of a panel of saliva tests for respiratory infections in the future and is especially adapted for convenient use among children. The company is also working on developing tests for other diseases that are already in the advanced stages of development.

Credit:Salignostics