Every expectant mother hopes for a healthy pregnancy. Yet for some, a hidden complication can emerge without warning.
Known as pre-eclampsia, the condition is one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal complications worldwide. Doctors typically only detect it after symptoms begin to appear. However, a Hong Kong biotechnology company aims to change that through a novel test that is sensitive, affordable and scalable.
Pre-eclampsia, a type of gestational hypertension, affects between 2% to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and can lead to preterm birth, poor foetal growth and even stillbirth. Researchers believe the condition is linked to abnormal placental development. At present, the only means of management is to assess risk through screening and to prescribe low-dose aspirin as a preventive measure.
A simpler approach to early detection
A team of researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) led by Professor Liona Poon has spent years investigating pre-eclampsia and ways to identify those most at risk. The current screening method, which is now used in public hospitals, combines three separate indicators: blood pressure, ultrasound scans and blood biomarkers.
Yet Prof Poon believed there was room for improvement. Seeking a faster and more accessible approach, she turned to advanced molecular diagnostics and devised a new predictive test based on three genetic markers linked to placental health.
The new test analyses cell-free RNA (cfRNA) molecules released from the placenta into the mother’s bloodstream. Using a proprietary analytic technique to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in RNA detection, the platform identifies placental cfRNA signatures associated with future pre-eclampsia risk.
In contrast to the leading competing test, which analyses 84 genes to make a prediction, the CUHK-developed test requires data from just three genes. This streamlined approach reduces testing costs by 20-fold and simplifies implementation, while preserving a high level of predictive performance.
“This test does not require expensive gene sequencing equipment and can be carried out in a standard molecular diagnostics laboratory,” Prof Poon said. “It costs just a quarter of the price of traditional screening, while the sensitivity (the ability to correctly identify at-risk patients) has improved from around 65% to 85%.”
Recognising the technology's commercial potential, Prof Poon secured a global exclusive license from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and set up PregnaSense to bring the innovation to market. The company is currently seeking patent protection in the Chinese Mainland, the US and Australia as it prepares to expand internationally.
Taking the technology global
With an eye on regional expansion, Prof Poon entered PregnaSense in the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's (HKTDC) 2026 Start-up Express programme, where it was named one of 10 finalists. Launched in 2018, the initiative provides start-ups with mentoring, networking opportunities and exposure to potential investors and business partners.
The company has also showcased its technology at the HKTDC’s Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), connecting with healthcare providers, investors and researchers from around the world.
"We talked to a number of potential partners from the Chinese Mainland, Asia and the Middle East about application scenarios, clinical collaboration and market expansion," Prof Poon said. "Participating in the exhibitions not only raised our international profile but also gave us valuable insights into the growing demand for maternal health screening and precision medicine across different markets.”
Looking ahead, PregnaSense plans to roll out its three-gene predictive test by mid-2027. The initial phase will focus on private practitioners, after which the service will expand to public hospitals.
"We will continue to seek partners and funding through HKTDC programmes and events," Prof Poon said. "The capital raised will support product development, clinical validation, regulatory registration, market expansion and team building as we progress towards commercialisation."
While pre-eclampsia remains one of pregnancy's most unpredictable complications, PregnaSense's technology could help shift the focus from diagnosis to prevention. It may also give expectant families something that has long been in short supply – an earlier warning and more time to act.