ALPhANOV lies at the heart, and often serves at the catalyst, for the emergence of new activities. Its steadfast support has enabled numerous companies have emerged and flourished, strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem. A prime example is XIMED, a start-up that came into being this year after a year of dedicated mentoring and support.

Patented technology for early diagnosis of breast cancer

Affecting 1 of 8 women, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Thanks to cancer screening programs, 90% of women survive when the breast cancer is detected at an early stage.

The XIMED start-up has its roots in the XPulse collaborative project, which developed an innovative medical X-ray imaging system using intense lasers for the early detection of breast cancer.

Now a spin-off from ALPhANOV, XIMED exploits an innovative patented technology, phase contrast X-ray imaging, specially dedicated to the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This revolutionary technology delivers high-quality images with enhanced diagnostic performance, facilitating the detection of breast microcalcifications, a key indicator in the early detection of breast cancer.

Due to the limited resolution of mammography, radiologists routinely perform macrobiopsies on suspected cases (estimated at around 4 million worldwide) to classify microcalcifications as benign or malignant.

Although, after anatomopathological analysis, 80% of microcalcifications are found to be benign, they lead to over-consumption of invasive procedures, remain an anxiety-inducing medical act for patients, time-consuming for doctors and costly for the healthcare system.

"We are determined to turn this innovation into an accessible, reliable and accurate solution for clinicians and patients alike" comment Najia Tamda and Aboubakr Bakkali, founders of the startup. "XIMED aims to include this new semiology in the ACR BIRADS standards, used worldwide by semiologists in their daily practices."

To achieve this, the startup aims to offer a range of innovative products
that can be integrated into the breast cancer diagnosis and management workflow.

• The first product, BrightX, is a specimen radiography device (SRS) that has reached a sufficient level of technological maturity to begin industrialization, with commercialization scheduled for the end of 2027. This machine will assist radiologists during macrobiopsy procedures, as well as surgeons during lumpectomy operations, by offering a more precise view for margin validation and calcification detection.
• The second product, PhoeniX, is a mammograph based on phase contrast technology as well. It aims to revolutionize the diagnosis of breast microcalcifications by offering enhanced performance, enabling these subtle anomalies to be better detected and analyzed.

An environment conducive to innovation

XIMED is part of the MedTech sector, which is growing rapidly thanks to technological innovation extended screening and growing demand for healthcare solutions. Najia points out, however, that this sector remains complex, with challenges such as market accessibility, strict regulations, international competition and financial stakes.

The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region plays a central role in the development of photonics and healthcare. "The region is the ideal catalyst for the sustainability and expansion of our project, and this dynamic naturally influenced our decision to pursue XIMED's development here. This local fabric gives us not only access to cutting-edge technical resources, but also constant support, both financial and operational."

From hosting with ALPhANOV to independence

In 2024, XIMED benefited from being hosted by ALPhANOV, which provided technical support and facilities. "More than just a conductive working environment, ALPhANOV provided us with essential support by mobilizing financial resources and multidisciplinary expertise (mechanical, electrical, X-ray imaging and IT developments." Thanks to this support, the first BrightX prototype was completed in just a few months.

XIMED also benefited from the support of BPI, a key player in the creation of deeptech start-ups. This synergy with the Conseil Régional de la Nouvelle-Aquitaine provided strategic support, particularly in terms of funding and networking with key players in the sector.

In January 2025, the start-up became independent. "The team grew to 5 qualified team members and moved to the Institut d'Optique d'Aquitaine in order to maintain physical proximity with ALPhANOV and maintain a collaborative framework."

These various changes are part of the startup's 2025 roadmap, which aims to work simultaneously on the two strategic aspects of its product development. First, for BrightX, the aim is to deliver two units to clinical partners to conduct studies and validate the technology in preparation for industrialization. Second, for PhoeniX, the objective is to optimize phase contrast technology to enhance the detection of breast microcalcifications, positioning PhoeniX as a benchmark in breast diagnostic.