Biotia Secures $2.4M Seed Funding to Advance AI-Powered Infectious Disease Diagnostics Using Genomic Sequencing

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that on December 10, 2019, biotechnology company Biotia announced it had secured $2.4 million in seed funding. The round was led by Falcon III Ventures, with participation from Hyperplane Venture Capital and other venture capital firms and angel investors.

It is reported that the company plans to use these funds to further develop and implement its diagnostic testing methods, including Chelsea, an AI-based software. In addition, Biotia will expand its Scientific Advisory Board to include prominent industry leaders Barry T. Zeman, FACHE; Dr. Don Goldmann; and Dr. Steven Salzberg.

Compared with existing hospital methods such as limited PCR panels, the AI-based software Chelsea offers numerous advantages. Chelsea provides precise metagenomic testing, including comprehensive microbial profile reports and predicted antimicrobial resistance reports. With a single test, Chelsea can identify known and emerging bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses by leveraging clinical and annotated databases. This database encompasses more than 16,000 microorganisms, along with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genetic markers and virulence genetic markers.

Biotia, founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, USA, is a biotechnology company that leverages next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology and artificial intelligence (AI) software to identify microorganisms and antimicrobial resistance for the detection and diagnosis of infectious diseases. The company aims to combat infectious diseases by deploying a leading microbial reference library globally, providing clinicians with faster and more effective guidance for patient treatment through testing, and significantly reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).

Through collaborations with international hospitals, Biotia has established the world’s largest clinical database for precision metagenomics. To date, this database encompasses a wide range of medical environmental and patient samples, including urine, feces, blood, sputum, and soft tissue. The company plans to launch new CAP/CLIA-certified clinical diagnostic tests in early 2020.

Dr. Yiannis Monovoukas, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Falcon III Ventures, stated, “Biotia stands out in the emerging field with its clinically focused database and actionable microbiology reports. They have led pioneering work among hospitals, clinicians, and scientists, developing much-needed clinical tools to identify and control infectious diseases.”

Dr. Niamh O’Hara, CEO of Biotia, stated, “We are delighted to enter the next phase for Biotia. Following extensive validation, we are expanding our service offerings from environmental testing to patient testing and ultimately to patient diagnostics, with the aim of providing hospitals with better tools to diagnose and control infectious diseases, improve patient outcomes, and save lives.”

Falcon III Ventures, based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is a venture capital firm specializing in the biotechnology sector.

Hyperplane Venture Capital, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is a venture capital firm specializing in the fields of artificial intelligence and data information.

(Compiled by Jiang Ying)