On January 12, 2023 LinusBio, a leader in precision exposome sequencing, reported that it raised over $16 million in Series A funding to deliver a novel platform that bridges genomics, the environment, and biological response (Press release, Linus Biotechnology, JAN 12, 2023, View Source [SID1234626233]).
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Historically, many health conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, have lacked biological tests to aid in diagnosis, monitor progression, or serve as objective endpoints in clinical trials. LinusBio’s proprietary platform introduces precision exposome biomarkers that can facilitate discovery across these domains.
The technology has the potential to fundamentally transform how complex disorders are diagnosed and treated – from autism to gastrointestinal disorders to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to renal disease and cancers.
Furthermore, the LinusBio platform can substantially improve clinical trials by providing data equal to over 500 liquid biopsies or blood samples, but all from a single strand of hair. It is the first technology platform that maps the molecular dynamics of human physiology in a time-dependent manner. The platform can help identify novel compounds for health conditions where genomic biomarkers have previously had limited success. The company is already using this platform in two pharma-sponsored trials and is in the process of partnering with several organizations within the healthcare and pharma ecosystem.
The company’s initial focus is on neurological disorders. One of the company’s early technologies, StrandDx-ASD, can assess the likelihood of autism at birth with 80% to 90% accuracy, and assist with personalized treatment decisions.
As a result, LinusBio’s early autism diagnostic aid has been granted an FDA Breakthrough Designation, reserved for innovations that "provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions." The solution has received CE Mark designation in the European Union as a diagnostic aid.
Early detection is critical for those on the autism spectrum. In fact, the National Institutes of Health found that some children that are diagnosed and treated early make substantial progress.
"Our mission is simple: to deliver better outcomes for people and families affected by complex health conditions," said Manish Arora, PhD., Co-Founder and CEO of LinusBio. "We chose to focus on autism first for many considerations, an important one of them is the dramatically different trajectory in cases of an early detection and effective intervention. The impact on the patient and the patient’s family can be substantial. We’re proud to launch the LinusBio platform to meet the tremendous need for better, faster, and comprehensive diagnostics and treatments for a range of conditions and diseases."
The company’s program pipeline also comprises advanced biomarkers for ALS, oncology (including pediatric cancer), gastroenterology (inflammatory bowel disease) and mental disorders (psychosis & schizophrenia).
The round was led by GreatPoint Ventures and Bow Capital. Other investors included Divergent Investments, Nicole Shanahan (President, Bia-Echo Foundation), the David Bellet Family Office, Gillian Sandler, and Sanford Robertson (Co-Founder of Francisco Partners and former board member of Salesforce), among others.
"Every day, every week, every month that certain diseases fester undetected and untreated impacts a patient’s long-term outlook," said Ashok Krishnamurthi, Managing Partner, GreatPoint Ventures. "We’re looking forward to working with LinusBio to scale their solutions and bring them to market to meet vital needs."
"Our mission is to help shorten the path of innovation from science to society," said Rafi Syed, General Partner, Bow Capital. "We’re proud to collaborate with LinusBio, which has great potential to transform the implications of complex diseases."
LinusBio’s technology examines human physiology at the molecular level through a strand of hair. Leveraging proprietary laser and robotics technology, LinusBio analyzes these strands and collects thousands of data points to measure individuals’ biological response to their lifespan environmental exposures. LinusBio is the first technology platform that maps the molecular dynamics of human physiology in a time-dependent manner.
"This technology is very exciting for those impacted by autism and many other conditions, as well as their families," said Amol Deshpande, Founder of Divergent Investments, and the CEO and Co-Founder of Farmers Business Network. "LinusBio has the opportunity to fundamentally transform the healthcare industry."
Arora, the CEO of LinusBio, is an environmental epidemiologist and exposure biologist. He is a recipient of a Presidential PECASE award from the White House, the highest civilian award given to early career scientists. Drs. Christine Austin, PhD., and Paul Curtin, PhD., also co-founded the company and serve on the leadership team.
The funding will be used to grow the LinusBio team, deliver more positive outcomes across more health conditions, and develop a world-class platform that will serve as a central hub for diagnostics and treatment.