From Theranos to Haemanthus: The Controversial Rise of a New Blood-Testing Startup
The Guardian21 hours ago
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From Theranos to Haemanthus: The Controversial Rise of a New Blood-Testing Startup

Startups & Scandals
startups
healthtech
fraud
innovation
biotech
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Summary:

  • Billy Evans, partner of Elizabeth Holmes, raises millions for Haemanthus, a new blood-testing startup

  • Haemanthus's technology claims to diagnose from blood, urine, and saliva, starting with animals before humans

  • The startup's pitch mirrors Theranos, which collapsed due to fraudulent technology

  • Evans has secured $20 million in funding, with Holmes reportedly advising from prison

  • Long-term goals include a wearable device for human health monitoring

Billy Evans, the romantic partner of the infamous Elizabeth Holmes and father of her children, has reportedly raised millions for a new blood-testing startup named Haemanthus. This venture eerily mirrors the now-defunct Theranos, which led Holmes to federal prison for fraud.

The Haemanthus Pitch

Evans, an heir to a hotel fortune, is pitching Haemanthus as a health-testing company capable of diagnosing conditions from blood, urine, and saliva. A January patent suggests the technology could test these samples for diagnoses, starting with animals before moving to humans.

Echoes of Theranos

Theranos, under Holmes, claimed to revolutionize blood testing with technology that required only small amounts of blood. However, it was later revealed that the technology was fraudulent, leading to the company's dissolution and Holmes' imprisonment.

Haemanthus's marketing materials promise a laser-based technology to scan samples and detect illnesses, cancer, or infections in seconds. The long-term goal includes developing a wearable version for humans.

Despite skepticism, Evans has raised nearly $20 million from friends and investors, with Holmes reportedly advising him from prison. The couple met in 2017 during Holmes' fraud investigation, and Evans now lives in Texas with their children, close to where Holmes is serving her sentence.

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