Axithra

Axithra is a Belgian medtech company spun out of the Photonics Research Group at Ghent University and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec). The company is developing a rapid, point-of-care therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) platform based on proprietary optics and photonics technology. Its system is designed to quickly and accurately measure drug concentrations in blood at the bedside, enabling clinicians to personalize treatment in real time rather than waiting for centralized lab results. The lead application targets personalization of β-lactam antibiotic therapy in intensive care units — a setting where dosing precision is critical to preventing toxicity and drug resistance. Unlike incumbent methods such as mass spectrometry or immunoassays, Axithra's photonics-on-chip approach aims to be faster, lower-cost, and deployable at the point of need. In 2026, the company launched its first external clinical evaluation in collaboration with UZ Gent and received funding through Belgium's health innovation program. The company is based in Ghent, Belgium.