- Liquid biopsy leader Karius announced it raised $165 million in a new round of funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2
Karius — a leader in liquid biopsy for infectious diseases — announced it has raised $165 million in a new round of funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with additional participation from General Catalyst, HBM Healthcare Investments, and existing investors Khosla Ventures and LightSpeed Venture Partners.
Karius is known for pioneering the discovery and application of microbial cell-free DNA and enabling non-invasive detection of pathogens throughout the body with its Karius Test. Plus the Karius Test is used in over 100 hospitals and health systems nationwide.
Microbes — which infecti different parts of the human body — leave traces of their DNA in blood, known as microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA). And the Karius Test uses novel genomics and AI approaches to identify and measure the mcfDNA of over 1,000 clinically relevant pathogens (including bacteria, fungi, DNA viruses, and parasites) from a single blood draw, informing doctors about the likely types and the quantities of infectious microorganisms affecting their patients. Plus the Karius Test delivers results typically the day after sample receipt, allowing doctors to better diagnose and treat their patients.
Recent peer-reviewed studies have presented real-world clinical utility of the Karius Test in various populations with serious illnesses. For example, immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to a variety of severe infections and frequently require invasive procedures for identifying the pathogens. And in a recent study of immunocompromised pediatric patients, the Karius Test non-invasively identified the pathogen causing infection more frequently than invasive procedures, and even more frequently than all microbiological tests combined. About two-thirds of the invasive diagnostic procedures performed in these pediatric patients might have been avoided based on the Karius Test results.
And additional publications support the use of Karius Test in other applications, including complex pneumonia, invasive fungal infections, and endocarditis.
Key Quotes:
“This transformative round will allow Karius to help more patients faster, fuel the next wave of clinical studies, and accelerate technology innovation. We are humbled to be part of the team that delivered the first clinical applications of microbial cell-free DNA and are excited about what’s ahead for Karius.”
– Karius CEO Mickey Kertesz
“Infectious diseases are the second leading cause of deaths worldwide. Karius’ innovative mcfDNA technology accurately diagnoses infections that cannot be determined by other existing technologies. We are excited to support Karius and their mission to use genomic insights to fight infectious diseases and save lives.”
– Deep Nishar, Senior Managing Partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers
“Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has already transformed diagnostics through non-invasive prenatal testing and liquid biopsies for oncology. Karius is now applying the power of NGS of microbial cell-free DNA to the field of infectious disease diagnostics, helping physicians to non-invasively identify a broad range of pathogens in severely ill patients.”
– Chandra P. Leo, Investment Advisor at HBM Partners
