Monat: Oktober 2026

Bedfont® Scientific strengthens its commitment to respiratory clinical research

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Bedfont® now focuses on supporting clinical research, debuting at the 9th annual Outsourcing in Clinical Trials DACH in Basel.

Bedfont® Scientific Limited, a world leader in breath analysis with 50 years of experience manufacturing medical devices, has quietly supported respiratory research around the world and is set to make its debut at its first clinical trial-focused event in November, taking the next step toward a dedicated focus on supporting clinical trials and clinical research teams, marking the beginning of a new chapter at Bedfont®.

Outsourcing in Clinical Trials (OCT) DACH is an annual conference that brings together professionals involved in the planning, management and outsourcing of clinical trials across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. As Bedfont® expands its focus on supporting clinical trials, attending OCT DACH is the perfect opportunity to engage directly with the professionals shaping the future of clinical research.

Bedfont® Team - Respiratory clinical research

„The future of respiratory medicine depends on robust clinical research. As biomarkers continue to play an increasingly important role in clinical trials, researchers need partners they can rely on for both scientific expertise and dependable technology.” Says Jason Smith, CEO at Bedfont®, “Building on our experience in respiratory diagnostics and the established use of NObreath® in clinical studies, we are excited to strengthen our support for the clinical research community and look forward to building relationships with the organisations leading respiratory studies at OCT DACH in November.“


The NObreath® FeNO device has been aiding asthma diagnosis and management for over 15 years. Designed for reliability, NObreath® provides accurate, repeatable FeNO measurements for long-term studies, making it the perfect choice for clinical trials. You can find the Bedfont® team at stand 10b for live demonstrations of NObreath® and to see how straightforward it is to incorporate FeNO testing into clinical trial protocols and patient visits.


To learn more about NObreath® and Bedfont’s attendance at this year’s conference, visit the website here.

What does good asthma control really look like?

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Asthma is a chronic lung condition affecting approximately 339.4 million people worldwide1, and when uncontrolled, it can be quite debilitating in everyday life. Despite modern-day medicine and the availability of effective treatments, approximately 39% of people with asthma remain uncontrolled1.

What do we mean by asthma control?

Asthma can cause various symptoms such as2:

  • Wheezing,
  • Coughing,
  • Shortness of breath,
  • Tight chest.

Asthma control can be measured by symptom frequency, night waking, reliever use, and activity limitations. Poor asthma control can be identified by increased symptoms, and controlled asthma can be recognised by minimal symptoms. Asthma is variable, so symptoms and control can change over time. Because of this, regular asthma reviews are important, even when patients feel fine. Reviews can help to evaluate the risk of future exacerbations and monitor treatment effectiveness.

Asthma symptoms, asthma control

What can good asthma control look like?

People with good asthma control should be able to carry out day-to-day activities with little to no limitations. However, it seems that people living with asthma have become accustomed to expecting symptoms daily and believe this to be normal. A European study found that out of 8,000 people, 80% considered their asthma to be controlled, when it was found that 45.1% had uncontrolled asthma3.

When asthma is under control, people should4:

  • Have few to no daytime symptoms,
  • Have reduced nighttime waking due to asthma,
  • Have less reliance on reliever medication,
  • Participate in exercise and sports.

More importantly, those with good asthma control should experience fewer exacerbations and fewer unscheduled healthcare appointments. Uncontrolled asthma can place a significant burden on healthcare systems; in 2023, the total direct cost to the NHS was believed to be over £1.5 billion5, emphasising the need for better asthma care.

Why symptoms don’t always tell the full story.

Airway Inflammation Infographic

In most people with asthma, inflammation can drive symptoms, but because airway inflammation is not visible, it is often overlooked. If a patient attends a routine asthma review and reports feeling fine, with little to no symptoms, airway inflammation can still be present, increasing the risk of future exacerbations. This demonstrates the need for objective testing in routine care to assess what cannot be seen: airway inflammation.

It is important to build a full picture of what’s happening in the airways instead of just asking about symptoms. This is where Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) testing is vital to the asthma pathway.

What is FeNO testing6?

FeNO is a non-invasive biomarker associated with type 2 airway inflammation; it measures nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled breath. When inflammation is present in the airways, more NO is produced and can be measured in a person’s breath, helping to assess the level of airway inflammation. FeNO testing provides the missing piece of the puzzle as it can:

  • Support an asthma diagnosis,
  • Help clinicians make informed treatment decisions,
  • Identify poor adherence or inhaler technique,
  • Open up more informed conversations between patients and healthcare professionals.

Asthma is a variable condition, with symptoms, triggers and levels of airway inflammation potentially changing over time. Incorporating FeNO testing into routine asthma management can provide healthcare professionals with an objective measure of type 2 airway inflammation, helping them monitor changes over time and build a more complete picture of a patient’s asthma control.

As technology and understanding of FeNO have evolved, its role in asthma care has become increasingly recognised. In the UK, the 2024 joint asthma guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) incorporated FeNO testing into recommendations for the diagnosis and ongoing management of asthma7.

FeNO testing with the NObreath®.

The NObreath® is an FeNO device that has supported asthma diagnosis and management for over 15 years. Designed with the patient in mind, it provides adult and child test modes, making it suitable for most ages. Its compact, portable design makes it ideal for busy primary and secondary care settings, delivering accurate, reliable FeNO results trusted by healthcare professionals worldwide.

Good control is personal.

Everyone’s normal is different, so good asthma control isn’t about achieving a number; it should mean positive outcomes for the individual, which can translate to:

  • Sleeping through the night,
  • Exercising,
  • Not missing work or school because of symptoms,
  • Playing sport.

Good asthma control is about understanding symptoms and reducing future risk. Instead of focusing only on symptoms, consider inflammation. By providing an objective measurement of type 2 airway inflammation, FeNO testing adds the missing piece to the puzzle, helping healthcare professionals make more informed decisions and provide more personalised asthma care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

To learn more about the role of FeNO testing in asthma management, read our blog here. For more information on FeNO testing with the NObreath®, visit the website here.

References

  1. Busse WW, Kraft M. Current unmet needs and potential solutions to uncontrolled asthma. European Respiratory Review [Internet]. 2022 Mar 31 [cited 2026 Sept 7];31(163). Available from: https://err.ersjournals.com/content/31/163/210176.long
  2. NHS. Asthma [Internet]. NHS. 2021 [cited 2026 Sept 7]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
  3. Price D, Fletcher M, van der Molen T. Asthma control and management in 8,000 European patients: the REcognise Asthma and LInk to Symptoms and Experience (REALISE) survey. npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine [Internet]. 2014 June 12 [cited 2026 Sept 7];24(1). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4373302/
  4. Asthma Zones: Signs of Controlled and Uncontrolled Asthma ǀ AAFA.org [Internet]. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 2026 [cited 2026 Sept 7]. Available from: https://aafa.org/asthma/asthma-symptoms/asthma-control/
  5. Asthma + Lung UK [Internet]. 2023. [Cited September 2026]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/investing-breath-measuring-economic-cost-asthma-copd-uk-identifying-ways-reduce-it-through-better
  6. Asthma + Lung UK. FeNO test | Asthma + Lung UK [Internet]. www.asthmaandlung.org.uk. 2022 [cited 2026 Sept 7]. Available from: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/symptoms-tests-treatments/tests/feno-test
  7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Overview | Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (BTS, NICE, SIGN) | Guidance | NICE [Internet]. Nice.org.uk. NICE; 2024 [cited 2026 Sept 7]. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG245

Bedfont® Scientific Ltd. acquires US-based company coVita™, marking the next chapter in its global growth

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Bedfont®, a world leader in breath analysis, announces its acquisition of coVita™, building on 16 years of partnership, market knowledge, and established infrastructure to support global expansion.

Bedfont® Scientific Limited, a leading MedTech company with 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing medical breath analysis devices, has taken the next step in its global expansion by acquiring coVita™ LLC. The acquisition positions Bedfont® to further penetrate the US market with its innovative breath analysis devices, including the NObreath® Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) device.

coVita™, a US medical device company based in The Woodlands, Texas, has served as Bedfont’s US distributor for more than 16 years, helping expand its breath analysis technologies across the US. With its extensive knowledge, coVita™ has provided valuable insight into the US healthcare market, helping Bedfont® understand local needs, navigate market opportunities, and strengthen its presence across the region.

“This acquisition represents an exciting new chapter for Bedfont® and builds on the strong relationship we have developed with coVita™ over many years. At the heart of everything we do is our commitment to improving healthcare through accessible, simple and non-invasive breath analysis.” Says Jason Smith, CEO of Bedfont®. “By bringing our expertise together and strengthening our presence in the US, we can reach more healthcare professionals, researchers and ultimately patients, helping to improve access to breath testing and support better healthcare outcomes.”

Bedfont & coVita Bedfont acquires coVita

„For more than 16 years, we’ve had the privilege of bringing Bedfont’s breath analysis technology to healthcare professionals across the US, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes in clinical practice,“ says Jason Aversano, Co-founder and CEO of coVita™. „Becoming part of Bedfont® is a natural next step in that journey. Our leadership and team will remain the same, so our customers can expect the same people and the same dedicated local support they know and trust. What changes is the pace. With Bedfont’s full resources behind us, we’ll be able to grow faster, reach more clinicians and support more research across the US and world.“

After Keensight’s majority stake in Bedfont® in 2025, this marks another new chapter in Bedfont’s history. The acquisition allows Bedfont® to continue building on coVita’s success, especially in the US FeNO market. As Bedfont® puts more focus on clinical research, a US base provides access to a major clinical research market and enables localised distribution, training, and technical support.

The announcement coincides with coVita’s attendance at this year’s CHEST annual meeting. The event brings together healthcare professionals interested in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Taking place between the 18th and 21st of October in Phoenix, Arizona, coVita™ will be at booth 1263, showcasing the innovative NObreath® FeNO device.

Building on its long-standing partnership with coVita™, Bedfont® combines its breath analysis expertise with established US market knowledge and infrastructure, strengthening NObreath’s proposition for multicentre clinical trials and improving access to objective testing to aid asthma diagnosis and management. To learn more about Bedfont®, visit the website here.

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