Spectral Medical CEO Dr. Paul Walker has been focused on finding a solution to identify and treat sepsis, and specifically endotoxins that are known to trigger it, for over 20 years.
Sepsis affects approximately 1 million patients in the U.S. each year, and even more worldwide – and treating the deadly condition has proved to be a challenge for the healthcare industry. For Walker, it’s a challenge worth facing.
Walker holds a PhD in biochemistry and has held positions as 1st chief of critical care at the Toronto General Hospital, chief of surgery at the University Health Network and COO of Toronto General Hospital, but has always been intrigued by the challenge of identifying and treating sepsis.
During his time, Walker collaborated with a colleague to develop the only diagnostic assay which can identify endotoxin levels from whole blood – and joined Spectral to commercialize the device and strike out against sepsis.
Spectral Medical produces the Endotoxin Activity Assay to identify endotoxin levels and is the U.S. marketer of the Toraymyxin device – an investigational therapeutic hemoperfusion column designed to treat patients in septic shock with elevated levels of endotoxins.
Walker spoke to MassDevice about his efforts to take on endotoxins and sepsis at the head of Spectral Medical, and what’s next for the burgeoning medical device firm.
