1DROP Raises $4.25 Million to Develop Next-Generation Portable Medical Diagnostics
Investment will support commercialization and development of panels of new diagnostic tests
BOSTON, Mass. and NEUCHATEL, Switzerland, October 31, 2018 (Newswire.com) - 1DROP, a life science company developing and commercializing an easy to use, laboratory quality, portable medical diagnostic testing platform, today announced the successful closing of a $4.25 million Series A equity financing round. From a single drop of blood applied to a biochip, 1DROP offers a complete panel of diagnostic test results within 15 minutes. The Boston, Massachusetts and Neuchatel, Switzerland based company raised the new equity funding from a number of professional investors.
The deal was led by Christian Wildmoser (former partner CVC Capital Partners & Swiss Startup Group Investor). Major private investors of the Swiss Startup Group including Dr. Hans-Peter Strebel (owner of On Your Marks, the competence center for top athletics and research) joined the round. Beat Schillig (IFJ Institute for Young Entrepreneurs) and Jean-Philippe de Toledo (CEO of Pharmacie Principale) invested. This financing round was supported by VentureLab.
The diagnostics industry is on the verge of a quantum leap. 1DROP is in pole position to transform not only medical diagnostics but the practice of precision medicine. We're proud to partner with a company that is committed to the scientific method and providing rapid and accurate health and diagnostic data.
Jean-Philippe de Toledo, CEO Pharmacie Principale
"Providing diagnostic results where and when they are needed is an enormous opportunity to improve healthcare," said 1DROP founder and CEO Dr. Luc Gervais. "1DROP eliminates inefficiencies in the healthcare system: the large volume of blood from a venipuncture of the arm, transport of the sample to the laboratory, labor to analyze the sample, long waiting times, phone and email with the doctor, and a second doctor’s visit for results and corresponding treatment."
1DROP plans to use the financing to expand research and development and to commercialize the medical diagnostics platform. The company plans to perform clinical studies to demonstrate the device’s suitability for near-patient use and to develop additional panels of tests. 1DROP plans to obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals and integrate diagnostic test results with electronic medical records. Machine learning will establish patterns of disease evolution and clinical outcomes.
Christian Wildmoser added, "1DROP has the key ingredients to become a world leader in medical diagnostics. Its innovative technology was created with the needs of healthcare professionals and patients in mind. The exceptional management and experienced team is now complemented by investors with deep expertise in building world-class companies. We are delighted to join the team and to work towards fulfilling 1DROP’s great potential."
Dr. Luc Gervais commented, "This financing round is an important validation of the innovation and progress the 1DROP team has made. This will accelerate the development and commercialization of our product. I am especially pleased to be joined by investors with a very strong track record in building successful companies."
"The diagnostics industry is on the verge of a quantum leap. 1DROP is in pole position to transform not only medical diagnostics but the practice of precision medicine. We're proud to partner with a company that is committed to the scientific method and providing rapid and accurate health and diagnostic data," said Jean-Philippe de Toledo.
The 1DROP device has been thoroughly vetted in clinical validation studies in hospitals, clinical laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. The company collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard University, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL).
"We believe that rapid access to more health and diagnostic data, combined with computational analysis will help to improve healthcare and create more efficient medicine," said Dr. Hans-Peter Strebel.
1DROP is currently working with three pharmaceutical partners to create companion diagnostic products for cardiology, autoimmune disease and glucose metabolism drug candidates. 1DROP plans to actively work with pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biomarker companies to develop more integrated solutions between diagnostics and therapeutics that improve the outcome for the individual patient.
About 1DROP
1DROP’s goal is to improve patient lives by enabling personalized healthcare through non-invasive diagnostic tests providing actionable health information that is accessible to everyone at any time. 1DROP facilitates the early detection, prevention and management of disease and empowers people to live better lives. 1DROP highly values collaboration, prioritizing the needs of customers and rapidly delivering solutions. 1DROP’s innovative diagnostic solutions for multiplexed assays of proteins, nucleic acids and peptides serve as tools for the development of new therapies, disease research, and clinical diagnostic tests. The company is based in Boston, United States and Neuchatel, Switzerland and is supported by some of the most highly regarded experts in the field of biosensors.
For more information, visit www.1dropdx.com.
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Press Contact:
Dr. Luc Gervais
Founder and CEO, 1DROP
press@1dropdx.com
Source: 1DROP