Virchow Medical has raised $4 million in seed financing to advance its biopsy specimen technology and expand access to precision oncology across the United States.
The funding round was led by Cerberus Ventures, with participation from physician users of the company’s technology, including pathologists and interventional radiologists. As part of the investment, Chenny Zhang, managing director at Cerberus Ventures, will join the company’s board of directors.
Virchow Medical plans to use the proceeds to complete development of its Virchow Vault, a liquid specimen biorepository, and expand deployment of its Biopsy Catchment pilot programs at additional medical institutions nationwide.
The company develops the Crow’s Nest Biopsy Catchment System, designed to capture tumor cells that are typically discarded after biopsy procedures. These cells are used to create Liquid Companion Specimens, enabling additional molecular and genomic testing without requiring more tissue from patients.
The technology addresses a key limitation in oncology diagnostics, where formalin-fixed tissue samples are often insufficient for molecular testing. By preserving otherwise wasted biological material, the platform aims to improve access to precision medicine, reduce the need for repeat biopsies, and provide oncologists with more comprehensive data for treatment decisions.
Virchow Medical also operates the Virchow Vault, a CAP-accredited biorepository that allows clinicians to store and access specimens for future genomic sequencing and molecular analysis on demand. This approach is designed to support more timely and flexible cancer care, while also generating valuable datasets that may contribute to broader advancements in healthcare and AI-driven diagnostics.
KEY QUOTES:
“The backing of Cerberus Ventures enables us to accelerate the education of the oncology, pathology, radiology, and reference lab communities about the clinical and financial benefits of banking high-quality genetic material sourced from used biopsy needles. It’s the best way to counteract tissue insufficiency, and Virchow has the technology and resources to harness that. We are humbled and honored to be in a position to help an enormous number of cancer patients.”
Alexander Arrow, MD, CEO of Virchow Medical
“We see Virchow not just as a platform to improve cancer patient outcomes, but also as a differentiated data provider that can help accelerate AI benefits across the healthcare system. We have been incredibly impressed with the Virchow team’s experience and execution and look forward to this partnership in their next phase of growth.”
Chenny Zhang, Managing Director at Cerberus Ventures
