Billy Evans, the partner of disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is reportedly raising millions for a new blood-testing startup named Haemanthus. The news has raised eyebrows across the tech and medical communities, given Holmes’s conviction for defrauding investors with her now-defunct company, Theranos. Holmes is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence.
Evans’s venture, named after a Greek word meaning “blood flower,” claims to offer a “radically new approach to health testing.” Haemanthus aims to use artificial intelligence to analyze blood, saliva, and urine samples for disease detection. According to reports, the company has already attracted significant investor interest and funding. The prototype of its testing device, however, has drawn comparisons to Theranos’s infamous Edison machine, sparking concern that history may be repeating itself.
Though Evans has not made any public statements, speculation about the project’s legitimacy and inspiration has grown rapidly, especially as the company’s vision closely mirrors Holmes’s earlier ambitions.
Public Response and Company’s Clarification
Haemanthus attempted to address mounting skepticism via a public post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. “We’re Haemanthus. Yes, our CEO, Billy Evans, is Elizabeth Holmes partner. Skepticism is rational. We must clear a higher bar,” the company stated. Emphasizing transparency, the company said it plans to let its science speak for itself, claiming that its technology represents a fundamentally different scientific approach rather than a refined version of Theranos’s flawed model.
In the same post, Haemanthus denied any involvement by Holmes, stating explicitly, “She has no role, now or future.” The company explained its use of light to interpret molecular patterns in biological fluids—an approach it describes as a new diagnostic paradigm. “Not an improvement. A different paradigm,” the post declared, attempting to separate the startup’s identity from Theranos’s legacy.
Despite these clarifications, the public remains cautious. Many industry observers have questioned the credibility and timing of launching another blood diagnostics company so closely tied to Holmes, whose rise and fall still loom large in the health-tech world.
Holmes’s Ongoing Influence and Future Plans
Although Holmes is not officially connected to Haemanthus, her shadow looms large over the project. She and Evans share two children, and Holmes recently stated from prison that she remains active in research and innovation. In an interview with People, Elizabeth Holmes said, “There is not a day I have not continued to work on my research and inventions.” She also reaffirmed her commitment to creating affordable health-care solutions.
Whether Elizabeth Holmes intends to re-enter the health-tech space upon her release or even collaborate with Evans in the future remains uncertain. Speculation about a possible memoir or future entrepreneurial ventures is already circulating.
As for Haemanthus, only time—and scientific validation—will determine if the company truly represents a new chapter in medical diagnostics or an eerie repetition of a controversial past.
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