Aperiomics Secures $1.8M Series A Funding to Advance Infectious Disease Diagnostic Technology

On August 26, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that U.S. biotechnology company Aperiomics announced the completion of a $1.8 million Series A financing round. The round was led by VentureSouth, with participation from Pipeline Angels and Propel(x).

Aperiomics plans to use the proceeds from this financing round to expand its physician team, broaden its clinical service offerings, and further develop diagnostic technologies for infectious diseases. In addition, Dr. C. Alexander Valencia, a pioneer in the field of medical diagnostics, will serve as the Chief Supervisor of Clinical Trial Development at Aperiomics.

Aperiomics, a biotechnology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Virginia, USA, is led by CEO Dr. Crystal Icenhour. The company is dedicated to transforming how healthcare professionals worldwide identify the infectious sources of diseases. Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Aperiomics utilizes Deep Shotgun metagenomic sequencing to detect every known bacterium, virus, fungus, and parasite. The company has established a renowned database covering more than 37,000 microorganisms, enabling physicians to determine causes of infection that other tests fail to identify, thereby streamlining the clinical diagnostic and treatment process.

Aperiomics was named “Life Science Innovator of the Year” in 2016 and received the “International Entrepreneurship Award of the Year” in 2018. The company is currently establishing a new 4,700-square-foot facility and laboratory in Sterling, Virginia, which is expected to be completed and certified within the coming months.

Aperiomics’ innovative diagnostic method, the Xplore-PATHOSM test, combines advanced DNA technology, big data analytics, and infectious disease expertise to identify the root cause of infections. The high accuracy of results obtained from this test enables physicians to determine the specific cause of a patient’s infection, thereby allowing for tailored treatment plans and improved patient care.

Dr. Crystal Icenhour, CEO of Aperiomics, stated, “We are delighted to have completed this financing round and to further advance clinical research in infectious disease diagnostics. This funding will enable Aperiomics to expand its medical team and conduct technology R&D, thereby serving a broader patient population. Dr. Valencia’s expertise in molecular genetics will facilitate the rapid development of Aperiomics’ clinical research and solidify the company’s leadership position in the field of clinical genomics.”

VentureSouth, founded in 2014 and headquartered in South Carolina, USA, is a venture capital firm. The company primarily invests in startups at the angel round.

Pipeline Angels, founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York, USA, is a venture capital firm. The company primarily invests in startups founded by female entrepreneurs.

Propel (x), founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, USA, is a venture capital firm focused on angel-round investments. The company primarily concentrates on the deep tech sector.

(Compiled by Hu Yifan)