What You Should Know:
– Karius®, a leader in genomic diagnostics for infectious disease, announced today the closing of a $100 million Series C funding round.
– Co-led by Khosla Ventures and newcomers 5AM Ventures and Gilde Healthcare, the funding round also saw participation from existing investors like Softbank Vision Fund 2 and General Catalyst.
– This significant investment fuels Karius’ mission to revolutionize infectious disease diagnosis by expanding access to their innovative Karius Test®.
Karius Test: Revolutionizing Diagnostics
The Karius Test utilizes cutting-edge genomic analysis and artificial intelligence to identify over 1,000 pathogens from a single blood sample. This innovative approach streamlines diagnosis, eliminates the need for multiple tests, and provides valuable insights into complex infections.
Strengthening Leadership
Karius further bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of three new board members, joining recent additions Dr. Norman Sharpless (former National Cancer Institute Head) and Elizabeth O’Farrell (former Eli Lilly executive):
- Alex Morgan, M.D., Ph.D.: Partner at Khosla Ventures
- Joep Muijrers, Ph.D.: General Partner at Gilde Healthcare
- Andrew Booth: Venture Advisor to 5AM Ventures and CFO of AbCellera Biologics
Clinical Validation: PICKUP1 Trial Delivers Promising Results
The Series C funding coincides with the positive outcomes of the PICKUP1 trial. This landmark multi-center study enrolled 257 hospitalized adults with pneumonia and active hematologic malignancies. The Karius Test, when used alongside standard care procedures, detected 40% more infections with the potential to significantly alter patient treatment in 81% of these cases. This groundbreaking study underscores the Karius Test’s transformative potential in improving diagnostics and patient care.
Funding Fuels Growth and Innovation
These funds will empower Karius to:
- Increase Accessibility: Currently utilized by over 400 U.S. hospitals, the Karius Test will be made more readily available beyond the hospital setting, catering to the growing demand from healthcare providers.
- Unlock New Possibilities: Karius will delve deeper into the potential of their cell-free DNA technology, investigating its applications in diagnosing conditions beyond infectious diseases.
“Every minute in the U.S., five cancer patients are admitted to the hospital due to infections—conditions that are often overshadowed by their primary diagnosis but are equally lethal, leading to nearly 1,000 deaths daily,” said Alec Ford, CEO of Karius. “This worrying reality emphasizes a critical and frequently overlooked gap in our healthcare system: the urgent need for faster diagnostic solutions. At Karius, we confront this challenge head-on. The Karius Test can reduce the time required to identify the cause of infections, as every minute counts for cancer patient survival. This additional $100 million will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver rapid diagnostic testing to more patients, where faster treatment saves more lives and significant healthcare resources.”
