Aqtual, a precision medicine company developing products for chronic diseases and oncology, has raised $31 million in Series B funding. The oversubscribed round saw new investors, including Bold Capital and Bold Longevity Growth Fund, join existing investors Genoa Ventures, Manta Ray Ventures, and Yu Galaxy. A strategic diagnostics investor also contributed, boosting Aqtual’s ability to advance its novel active chromatin cell-free DNA (cfDNA) platform towards commercializing its first flagship product: a therapy response prediction test for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Aqtual is currently enrolling RA patients in a prospective observational clinical trial, PRIMA-102 (ID NCT05936970), which has already enrolled over 1,300 patients. Initial proof-of-concept data has been delivered, with trial completion expected in Q4 2025. This is critical as RA treatment is highly individualized, and many patients struggle to find effective therapies, contributing over $19 billion annually in U.S. direct healthcare costs.
Aqtual’s proprietary active chromatin cfDNA platform is unique in integrating DNA, epigenetic regulation, and protein-DNA binding in a single blood-based assay. This approach enables high-fidelity quantification of tissue-specific gene regulation directly from blood by profiling disease, microenvironment, and systemic immune response.
Aqtual plans to present new data and commercialization plans at major rheumatology and diagnostics meetings in the second half of 2025, including CCR West, CSRO Advocacy Conference, and ACR Convergence 2025.
KEY QUOTES:
“The Aqtual team combines deep technical brilliance with remarkable resilience and ingenuity. Over the past year, we’ve seen powerful signals of technical and early commercial validation – not only in their lead indication, but across a broad range of chronic diseases and cancers – demonstrating the platform’s potential for wide-reaching impact in molecular diagnostics. It’s been a pleasure to work with them over the years, and Manta Ray is excited to support this next pivotal step toward commercialization.”
Lawrence Barclay, Managing Partner at Manta Ray
“This raise marks a key inflection point for cfDNA diagnostics—not just for Aqtual, but for the broader field. Our platform uniquely captures the biology of chronic disease, enabling deeper insights to support more effective treatment planning strategies. With this funding, strengthened by backing from a strategic partner, we’re positioned to advance our internal pipeline and forge new partnerships that extend the impact of our platform across disease areas.”
Diana Abdueva, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Aqtua
