Predicta Biosciences, a precision oncology company focused on developing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic discovery tools, has announced the close of a $23.4 million Series A funding round. The funding round was oversubscribed and led by Engine Ventures, with participation from Illumina Ventures, Lightchain Capital, Mass General Brigham Ventures, ACS BrightEdge, Binney Street Capital of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Myeloma Solutions Fund.
This funding will support the expansion of Predicta’s team and laboratory infrastructure, as well as the commercialization of its first diagnostic test and the development of additional non-invasive solutions for blood cancers and autoimmune diseases.
The company also announced the appointment of Brian McKernan as its new Chief Executive Officer. McKernan is a seasoned biotech entrepreneur with three successful startups under his belt. He most recently served as CEO of Fluent BioSciences, which was acquired by Illumina in 2024. His earlier ventures contributed to the Human Genome Project and helped advance global efforts to map gene mutations linked to neurological diseases. McKernan has also served as Chairman of the Analytical Life Sciences and Diagnostic Association and holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.
Predicta’s mission is to address the longstanding challenges in diagnosing and managing blood cancers and autoimmune conditions. Many of these diseases, such as multiple myeloma, lack curative treatments and suffer from limited early detection options. In April, the company launched GenoPredicta, its first Laboratory Developed Test (LDT), which can be performed using either peripheral blood or bone marrow. The test is designed to help physicians molecularly diagnose patients who have or are at risk for multiple myeloma and guide therapeutic decisions.
Predicta is already working closely with healthcare providers and advocacy organizations, including the HealthTree Foundation, to bring its innovations into clinical practice. With fresh capital and experienced leadership, the company is poised to accelerate its impact in precision oncology and improve outcomes for patients facing complex diseases.
KEY QUOTES:
“It’s an honor to join Predicta and our strong team of leading oncologists, scientists and proven operators using leading-edge genomics to help patients on a diagnostic and therapeutic basis today. Predicta is already allowing clinicians to better understand and predict multiple myeloma patients’ conditions, and how they might respond to different treatment options. Ultimately, Predicta’s goal is to expand beyond diagnostics, and this funding will accelerate our path to bringing new precision therapeutics to market by leveraging our one-of-a-kind genomic and immune profiling data.”
Brian McKernan
“In the era of precision therapeutics, there is an urgent need for equally precise diagnostics in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers. While many patients are now receiving advanced immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies, clinicians often lack critical insights into the mutation or deletion status of key targets like BCMA or GPRC5D before initiating treatment. Having this knowledge upfront can be transformative – allowing physicians to identify patients unlikely to respond, avoid unnecessary toxicity, and ensure therapies are directed where they will have the greatest impact.”
Irene Ghobrial, MD, co-founder of Predicta
“Predicta stands out among early-stage biotech companies because of its immediate clinical impact and its enormous future potential. With Brian McKernan’s deep experience in commercializing scientific innovation—combined with the founding team’s world-class clinical, genomic, and analytical expertise, we’re entering a new phase of growth to meet the urgent unmet needs of patients living with blood cancers and autoimmune conditions.”
Ann DeWitt, General Partner at Engine Ventures and Predicta Board member
