# papilio.bio

> papilio.bio is a French deeptech medical diagnostics company developing the first readerless at-home HPV self-test, powered by proprietary molecular technology. The platform delivers laboratory-grade molecular sensitivity (PCR-equivalent) in a 15-minute lateral flow self-test, with no electronic reader required.

## Company

- **Name:** papilio.bio
- **Founded:** 2024
- **HQ:** Paris, France (labs at Spartners, Gif-sur-Yvette)
- **Stage:** Pre-seed (raising €1.5M as of 2026)
- **Sector:** Deeptech, IVD diagnostics, women's health, preventive medicine
- **Website:** https://papilio.bio
- **Contact:** chiara@papilio.bio

## Founders

- **Chiara Cespi Polisiani.** CEO and Co-founder. Second-time entrepreneur. 8+ years in startup operations, marketing, and growth. Previously at ManoMano and Cheerz.
- **Serena Petracchini.** CSO and Co-founder. PhD in Microbiology (Institut Pasteur). 8+ years in biotech R&D. Author of 8 publications (Nature, Gut Microbes); 290+ citations.

## Technology

papilio.bio's proprietary platform combines three breakthroughs:
1. **Proprietary molecular probes.** Engineered to bind biological targets with high specificity, at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional methods.
2. **Proprietary signal amplification.** Generates molecular-grade signal from minimal target without instrumentation.
3. **Readerless lateral flow.** Visual result, no electronic reader, no power required.

The first product is an at-home HPV self-test detecting high-risk HPV markers, with results in 15 minutes. The platform is extensible to STIs, oncology biomarkers, hormonal panels, and other indications.

## Why it matters

- HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and causes cervical, anal, throat, and oropharyngeal cancers in all genders
- Cervical cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide
- Over 40% of women in high-income countries are not regularly screened; the rate is dramatically higher in LMICs
- Today there is no readerless molecular-sensitivity point-of-care test on the market

## Intellectual Property

- 1 EU patent filed (October 2025), platform-level coverage
- 3 additional patents planned
- IP strategy supported by ICOSA (patent attorneys) and INPI

## Regulatory

- EU IVDR Class C, CE Mark target 2029/2030
- FDA 510(k) pre-submission planned 2028
- ISO 13485 quality system from 2026
- Regulatory advisory partnership with RUMB

## Traction & Backing

- €340k+ already raised (non-dilutive grants and incubator awards)
- Backed by: Bpifrance, Genopole, Agoranov, WILCO, 21st CentraleSupélec, Spartners (Servier and BioLabs), La French Tech, La French Care, Femtech France, SheEOS, Réseau Entreprendre
- Clinical and R&D partners: AP-HP, Hôtel-Dieu, Institut des Cancers des Femmes
- Industrial partners: Merck (M-CLarity program), Servier, Biotem, Arete Biosciences
- Awards: Best Potential at Hacking Health Camp; Prix Innovation Servier; Deeptech label; Bourse French Tech

## Market

- Global Diagnostic Testing TAM: $120B
- HPV screening market: $7.9B (2024) to $12.4B (2034), CAGR ~5.8%
- Point-of-Care Testing market: $37.3B (2024), CAGR ~10.2%
- WHO 2023 guidelines explicitly call for decentralized HPV self-sampling

## Key links

- [Homepage](https://papilio.bio)
- [Platform technology](https://papilio.bio/platform)
- [About the team](https://papilio.bio/about)
- [Press & coverage](https://papilio.bio/press)
- [Contact](https://papilio.bio/contact)
- [Join the waiting list](https://papilio.bio/waiting-list)

## Disclaimer

papilio.bio is currently developing its first product. The HPV self-test and companion app are under research and development, not CE marked, and not available for medical use. All information is for educational and informational purposes only.