About PHI

PHI in brief

Phase Holographic Imaging PHI AB is a medical technology company.
We develop and market a new generation of non-invasive, time-lapse imaging instruments for quantitative and long-term analysis of living cells.

The foundation of our current commercial HoloMonitor® products is Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) technology, which brings an innovative approach to real-time cell quality evaluation.
It offers a detailed analysis of a large number of cell health and behavior characteristics without harming or influencing living cells. This critically differs from conventional measurement methods, which often jeopardize cell integrity.

Now, we actively focus on business development to expand from our current pre-clinical research market to the sizable healthcare industry and the emerging regenerative medicine field. We at PHI envision transforming live cell analysis and setting a new benchmark with QPI as a standard method for cell quality control, enabling regenerative treatments to advance and making future cell therapies safe, reliable, and economically and universally accessible for patients worldwide.

PHI’s headquarters are in Lund, Sweden, with offices in Boston, MA and Winston-Salem, NC.

Find your answers:

Background, or Our Why?

Scientists need better data

Conventional test methods require living cell cultures to be genetically manipulated or stained with toxic substances before analysis. This limits and hinders experiments. As a result, the influence on those living cells also limits and distorts the preclinical results. They determine whether costly clinical trials should be started — a standard that requires an innovative update.

Our solution

PHI’s HoloMonitor® technology solves this dilemma by replacing a nearly 100-year-old microscope technique with a modern computer-based technique — QPI technology with holographic microscopy. It neither influences the cells in any way nor causes uncharacteristic cell behavior. It means that the measurement method is not affecting the cells. This is very relevant in drug development and basic medical research for accurate and cost-efficient research and satisfying patient outcomes.

We transform how scientists study living cells.

Our Products

More than 200 HoloMonitor® live cell analysis systems have so far been delivered worldwide to our customers across academia and industry. Some of our more well-known customers include Bayer AG, the National Institutes of Health, Harvard University, Stanford University and Novo Nordisk A/S.

We at PHI have been granted over 20 patents in six different families and have a pending portfolio of additional applications. Furthermore, the company’s customers have published over 300 scientific articles based on data from HoloMonitor.

HoloMonitor® M4

Unlike conventional cell analysis instruments, the HoloMonitor® live cell microscope is designed to be placed inside the cell incubator where cells are grown. This allows researchers to monitor their cells in an optimal culture environment continuously. Furthermore, our pioneering technology makes it possible for scientists to study the behavior of living cells without disturbing them. This has previously been difficult to do. Conventional techniques require the cells to be genetically manipulated or stained with toxic dyes, altering the cellular behavior the researchers wish to study.

Learn more about our Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) Technology

Traditional microscopy techniques image cells by recording the intensity of light. However, human cells are transparent, which means they neither absorb nor scatter light. This makes them as difficult to see under a traditional microscope as a cube of party ice in a water glass — the clear ice cubes we never manage to make at home.

Shallow water around a sandbar slows down ocean waves in the same way cells delay light waves as they pass through. PHI’s microscope technology measures this delay and makes it possible to image and measure unaffected cells without the genetic manipulation or toxic staining used by conventional microscopy and cell analysis methods.

When two light beams meet, light creates a wave pattern like water waves. In PHI’s HoloMonitor® system, a laser beam is split into two. One beam passes through the cells while the other passes by the sample as a reference. When the beams meet, a wave pattern (hologram) is formed, which contains information about how much the laser light was delayed when it passed through the cells.

The hologram is photographed with a digital image sensor. From the information in the hologram, 3-dimensional images of the cells are computer-calculated, where the height and color of the cells reflect the delay. The holographic microscope technology makes it possible to measure cell volume and other important properties that cannot be measured with conventional microscope technology.

The delay causes the light waves to shift relative to each other. PHI’s holographic imaging technology images living cell cultures through this phase shift. Hence, the company’s name is Phase Holographic Imaging.

App Suite software and Live Cell Assays

App Suite is the tailor-made HoloMonitor® cell imaging software based on biological applications. The software has an intuitive user interface that guides the user through a simple step-by-step workflow, from setting up the experiment to presenting the results. The software also includes multiple Live Cell Assays, allowing users to study multiple cellular events easily. Here, the user benefits from a simple and time-saving workflow, as they can extract several results from the same experiment.

Fluorescence module

Fluorescent labeling of cells is today the best method for studying the genetic activity of individual cells. However, the method is toxic to the cells and can changes the behavior that is intended to observe. To make new research tools available to the medical research community, PHI has developed an additional fluorescence module compatible to the HoloMonitor® M4 system.

Accessories

We offer our customers further accessories to streamline and simplify their workflow. Cells grown in a nutrient solution at the bottom of different types of plastic containers. We developed a special HoloLids™ to easily avoid the condensation that forms with conventional lids. In addition, we have Vessel holders to fit different vessels to the HoloMonitor® system and HoloDry™ to keep the system’s optics and interior dry when operating inside a cell incubator.

HoloMonitor is very affordable. It is one of my best investments so far. The spectrum of applications is endless. I am fully convinced that this is the beginning of a new era for research.

Alain Geleon,
National Institute of Applied Sciences, Lyon

Read more customer reviews at SelectScience.com

Our operations and markets

HoloMonitor® primarily addresses cancer research. Customers also have applications in other research areas, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, stem cell biology, gene therapy, diabetes, toxicological studies and cell-based drug development.

Learn more about our Business model & Strategy

PHI markets a competitive combination of sophisticated software and quality hardware, constantly evolving its offerings through in-house development in response to changing market needs. The production of the hardware and accessories is strategically outsourced to specialized subcontractors located in Sweden.

PHI’s business model strategically centers around the HoloMonitor® products, designed to meet the specific needs of academia and industry research labs. The company prioritizes direct interactions and live product demonstrations at potential customer facilities, particularly in cell-based research environments. Combined with a digital marketing approach, this sales strategy is essential for demonstrating HoloMonitor’s advantages firsthand, aiming to foster trust and enabling customers to assess its suitability for their unique research needs. The sales process at PHI is designed to align with the detailed and extended decision-making cycles often found within the scientific community. It accounts for the crucial phase of securing grant funding or other financial support for institutions looking to invest in new research equipment. As a result, sales cycles typically span 6 to 12 months.

PHI is actively expanding its global reach within its current core markets, such as North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, while also exploring new territories. At the heart of this strategic expansion is the partnership with Altium, a major investor and global distributor of PHI. Altium’s engagement has been transformative for PHI’s operations, not only providing substantial financial backing but also significantly enhancing PHI’s market presence through Altium’s well-established sales channels and distribution networks. The joint efforts aim to broaden the geographic reach and adoption of the HoloMonitor® system, utilizing targeted demonstrations and deeper market penetration to enhance sales performance and cash flow, positioning PHI as a key player in its field. This collaboration enables PHI to focus on its core expertise and innovation capabilities—advancing QPI technology and product development within regenerative medicine.

We advance cell-based preclinical research …

Currently, our customers are in cell-based preclinical research — modern pharmaceutical research and medical research across academia and industry — as many questions in this field require answers from living cell culture analysis experiments.

Our HoloMonitor® technology is transforming preclinical research by providing a foundation for better cell models. Those are critical before clinical drug testing and for reducing the need for animal test models. This innovative QPI technology ensures that cells remain unaffected during analysis. By enabling scientists to obtain better data without compromising cell health, HoloMonitor® sets a new standard in drug development and basic medical research. And therefore aiming for more successful patient outcomes and reduced research expenses.

A common question:
What is preclinical research?

Preclinical research is medical research that is not performed on humans. Both animals and laboratory-grown cells are used to develop new treatment methods before they are tested on humans. PHI addresses cell-based preclinical research organizations, including universities, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

… and now we expand to clinical applications

PHI is strategically prepared to extend its reach into the large clinical market and emerging fields of regenerative medicine and cell therapies. This presents significant growth opportunities. By striving to achieve Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and create a company quality management system (QMS), we aim to penetrate these markets in the future. And our non-invasive cell analysis solutions can offer critical cell quality control assessment.

Many consider the area where laboratory-grown cells or organs themselves constitute the treatment as the third pillar of medical treatment or the future of medicine. Thus, regenerative medicine is challenging the traditional healthcare pillars — drugs and surgery. However, standardized quality control and patient safety must be improved to industrialize regenerative medicine. When regenerative therapies are accessible to everyone, QPI for standardized cell quality control would be needed in all regional hospitals and small- and large-scale manufacturing plants.

PHI in Regenerative Medicine

In 2022, we joined the RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO) located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. PHI also joined an alliance to advance cell-based biomanufacturing with other companies in ReMDO and the pioneering Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM). Together, we aim to automate the manufacturing process of cell-based therapies. We utilize recent technological developments in cell culturing, analytical instrumentation, and artificial intelligence. We also opened a new development office in the Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem. This way, we are present at the epicenter of this rapidly growing field.

Since 2023 PHI has been an active member of the leading international Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) and the national ATMP Sweden network. These organizations enables us to advocate for QPI technology for standard cell quality control in regenerative medicine.

A common question:
What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a groundbreaking field focused on developing methods to regenerate, repair, or replace damaged cells, tissues, or organs. It integrates biology, chemistry, computer science, and engineering to develop treatments for conditions previously thought untreatable.

It has already begun to transform healthcare by offering new hope to patients with conditions like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and deafness, displaying its vast potential to improve and save lives globally.

Our unique technology is key

Gene and cell therapies involve extracting cells from a patient or donor, modifying and multiplying the cells in a laboratory before the cells are transplanted back into the patient.

Advanced quality control is key for cell therapy to become a safe treatment. Because the cells are returned to the patient, no foreign substances may be added for quality control. However, traditional measurement methods require added reagents. Our non-destructive cell analysis technology is considered one of the few methods that can potentially become the method used to quality-assure future cell therapies.

It is well known in the field that cell morphology changes when cell quality deteriorates. QPI technology generates vast amounts of data for precise cell counting, viability checks or assessing individual cell morphology that may be predictive of cell quality, ensuring the quality of therapeutic products.

QPI technology meets the pressing demand for non-invasive, standardized quality controls across the whole cell therapy manufacturing cycle. It addresses significant gaps and challenges in current methodologies, which is crucial for the field’s advancement as regenerative therapies rapidly evolve.

QPI has the potential to become a standard analysis method in every instance where cell-friendly quality control of live cells is needed.

Recent news regarding regenerative medicine

Shaping the future of Regenerative Medicine – PHI’s vision for QPI in Cell Therapy Manufacturing

PHI presents a comprehensive opinion piece detailing the versatility and potential the Company sees for Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) technology in Regenerative Medicine. PHI outlines how QPI will offer enhanced cell quality control in the cell manufacturing process, thereby addressing a central puzzle piece for making cell-based therapies safe, affordable, and accessible for all.

BioStock: PHI “It’s the right moment to capitalize on regenerative medicine momentum.”

BioStock contacted CEO Patrik Eschricht for an update on the company’s progress and how PHI will capitalize on the current momentum.

Key Figures in latest Reports

November 28, 2024

Interim Report 2 2024/25

Sales grew significantly in Q2 vs. the same period last year, but only moderately YTD vs. the same period last year. Discounting on demo kits for our new distributors reduced the gross margin. Overall costs remain stable. The absolute key to transforming the company, both short-term and long-term, is a significant increase in sales, which the agreement with Altium promises to deliver.

September 16, 2024

Interim Report 1 2024/25

The first quarter of 2024 has so far been a period of steady course and strategic positioning for Phase Holographic Imaging. Most notably, PHI has been very active around the globe in forming important academic and sales partnerships during this summer and preparing for future growth.

Future Goals

PHI is focusing on achieving important milestones in the coming years, utilizing the potential of its partnerships and collaborations. PHI has a clear focus on expanding its business to the clinical research market and positioning the company in the regenerative medicine field.

The collaboration with Altium is instrumental in PHI’s approach to gaining a stronger foothold in the regenerative medicine field, where PHI’s cell quality control technology can meet critical industry needs.

PHI is also actively fostering alliances with leading institutions such as the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which enriches its initiatives and provides access to an exceptional ecosystem of expertise and innovation. This partnership bolsters PHI’s leadership in regenerative medicine, enabling the ongoing development and application of PHI’s cell quality control technology.

PHI engages in these strategic relationships to fortify the Company’s position as a thought leader in the field, accelerate progress, bolster market penetration, open new doors to new business opportunities, and enhance shareholder value.

Further reading to follow our journey

March 20, 2024

BioStock: Shift to regenerative medicine increases growth prospects for PHI

BioStock talked to our CEO, Patrik Eschricht, for an operational overview and to learn about the current behind-the-scenes developments, as PHI has a growth trajectory that is on a notable upward trend, marked by its highest-ever sales performances in the last quarter.

February 21, 2024

BioStock: PHI “We aim to revolutionize the regenerative medicine market“

BioStock talked to PHI’s CEO, Patrik Eschricht, about the eventful past year and his vision for the company’s future within regenerative medicine.

November 14, 2023

BioStock: PHI’s CEO reflects on the Company’s momentum

BioStock reached out to PHI’s CEO, Patrik Eschricht, to delve into what latest developments have contributed to the heightened enthusiasm surrounding the company.

November 9, 2023

BioStock: Altium fuels PHI’s forward drive

BioStock connects with Goran Dubravčić, Altium’s CEO and PHI’s newly appointed Chairman of the Board, to explore the current pivotal developments and their impact on PHI’s trajectory.

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Why invest in PHI?

• We have deep knowledge based on more than 20 years of experience. Our team of experts, scientists, and engineers creates our offering to advance cell research and enable the future of medicine.
• We have a proven technology that is transforming live cell research. Our products are established worldwide and have been used in more than 300 scientific articles.
• We have a proven track record, long-standing relationships and the trust of our customers. Nevertheless, we are continuously expanding our global network and partnering with more experts and leading institutions.
• We are well-positioned for growth as a company. Through strategic partnerships and projects, are already operating in the middle of the regenerative medicine field.
• We are continuously growing and evolving. Indeed, we prioritize yearly investments in our products, patents, and R&D. We are proud never to stand still in developing and adding to our product portfolio to meet our market’s evolving needs.
• We are on our feet to adapt to a dynamic business environment. Our quick embrace of digital tools in our sales and customer support has made us pioneers in our field in recent years.
• We have a strong vision that drives us every day. Equipped with this motivator, we have our eyes set on the future to become part of the solution for standardized quality control in the cell therapy manufacturing process.