Early stage cancer detection by Microbiome and Liquid Biopsy
USA, California
Market: Medicine, Other, Artificial Intelligence
Project stage: Prototype or product is ready
Also this project:
-
Find investments
- Participate in the Unicorn Battle
Idea or High Level Concept
Each year 9 million of people die of cancer. 4 million of these are preventable deaths, if we had early stage detection methods. The 3 founders of Micronoma are world renowned microbiome experts from UC San Diego. They moved away from current mostly human and tumor centric approach and discovered that tumors can be detected specifically and sensitively, even in its early stages, by using liquid biopsy targeting tumor microbial markers. Micronoma is dedicated to reduce the number of cancer preventable deaths with their novel tumor detection solutions.
Territory of the product or service implementation
North America
Traction and Current Status
We are early stage and currently closing our first seed funding to be able to fully spin out of UC San Diego and start developing our lab test under CLIA services program. We expect to be in full operation in August.
Problem or Opportunity
Clinical trial utility are expensive so we are taking a one cancer detection at a time approach. If we were able to get a larger amount of funding we can apply the same solution on at least 20 different cancer types simultaneously from one simple blood samples.
Solution
Within the first 2 years, we will first reach north american and european market with a laboratory developed test perform in CLIA labs. We will then later deploy our offering under regulatory approved (PMA or CE IVD certification) more globally
Customer Segments and Market
First 2 years will be focused on oncologists, pulmonologists and cancer centers in USA and EU. We will expand to the rest of the world starting in year 3 by partnering with local diagnostic service providers.
Revenue Streams and Cost Structure
Revenues are schedule to happen by end of year 2, and we expect to be cash flow positive by year 4.
Business Model, Chanells, Metrics
We are going to offer our test to cancer centers, oncologists and pulmonologists, who will prescribe the test and provide us with a blood sample of patient to be tested.
Competitors and Existing Alternatives
Liquid Biopsy (from Guardant or Foundation Medicine) are the closest competitors we would have already commercially available. Grail or Thrive are currently having projects in development but much like the 2 previous companies they focus on tumor or somatic markers which likely explain their lack of sensitivity and specificity, specifically in early stage of cancer.
Advantages or differentiators
1- detect cancer in stage 1 or 2 to reduce preventable death 2- cancer specific - the test doesn't tell you if you have a marker of any cancer but rather specifically if you are a marker for lung cancer for example
Won the competition and other awards
2020 Cool Companies 2021 Unicorn Battle Silicon Valley Winner