Antimicrobial resistance, driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, is becoming a major global health threat. In the case of gonorrhea, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide, treatment options are rapidly decreasing, with only a single antibiotic remaining broadly effective. This creates an urgent need for diagnostic tools that allow clinicians to prescribe the most appropriate treatment only when needed.
A key barrier today is that standard diagnostic methods rely on centralized laboratory testing, which typically requires around 90 minutes or longer to deliver results. As a consequence, treatment decisions are often made empirically during the patient’s first visit, contributing to inappropriate antibiotic use and accelerating resistance.
At Checktor Biosciences, we are developing a novel molecular diagnostic assay designed to address this gap. Our technology enables the detection of gonorrhea, related infections, and antimicrobial resistance markers within minutes, directly at the point-of-care. The goal is to equip clinicians in decentralized settings, such as STI clinics and small healthcare centers, with a test that combines laboratory-level accuracy with rapid turnaround time (< 10 min). This would allow informed treatment decisions during the first patient visit, improving patient care and reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

During the project, we advanced our diagnostic assay from development to clinical validation. The final assay showed 100% agreement with gold-standard PCR on clinical samples for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, while consistently delivering results in 5 minutes or less—significantly faster than conventional workflows. We also demonstrated detection of antimicrobial resistance mutations, reinforcing the clinical relevance of the test.
Based on strong technical results and clear industry interest, we strategically pivoted to a B2B model focused on integrating our hardware-agnostic CRISPR-based chemistry into existing point-of-care platforms from established diagnostic companies. This approach accelerates commercialization and enables faster deployment within real-world clinical settings.