Vortex Biosciences Secures Series A Funding from EMV Capital to Advance Circulating Tumor Cell-Based Liquid Biopsy Technology

Recently, VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned that Vortex Biosciences announced it had secured investment from EMV Capital, with the transaction amount undisclosed.

It is reported that this marks Vortex Biosciences’ first Series A financing round since its establishment in 2012. The company will use the funds to integrate and expand its downstream operations.

Vortex Biosciences was incubated from the Microfluidics Biotechnology Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and was founded in 2012 by Dr. Dini Di Carlo and Dr. Elodie Sollier. The company is a leader in liquid biopsy for circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Vortex’s first product, the VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System, can automatically isolate and collect high-purity CTCs directly from whole blood, making the acquisition of circulating tumor cells a key factor in targeted diagnostics.

The VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System provides an automated, label-free benchtop solution for isolating and purifying circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from standard 8 mL blood tubes. The VTX-1 instrument leverages microvortices to rapidly process samples, yielding high-purity CTCs. These samples are readily compatible with downstream applications, including genomics, protein biomarker assays, single-cell analysis, and staining techniques. The VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System also preserves cell-free DNA (ctDNA) content in retained samples for downstream next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis.

Dr. Ilian Iliev of EMV Capital stated, “As a venture investor focused on intellectual property, we recognize the value created by the Vortex team. The Vortex team has played a pivotal role in the liquid biopsy market. In 2018, the global liquid biopsy market was valued at $3 billion, and it is projected to reach $8 billion by 2023. We support the company’s accelerated expansion in the North American and European markets, as well as the enhancement of its platform capabilities.”

“Vortex Biosciences CEO Robert Englert stated, ‘We are utilizing this new funding to integrate downstream expansion initiatives. Vortex aims to improve cancer detection and treatment by providing an optimal CTC sample workflow for standard blood collection tubes. The VTX-1 instrument has demonstrated outstanding performance in practical applications.’”

Gene Walther, CEO of Vortex Biosciences, stated, “The market holds VTX-1 technology in high regard, which further validates the significant potential of CTCs and the unique value of VTX-1.”

EMV Capital Ltd (EMVC) is a London-based early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on investing in B2B companies within the industrial high-tech, energy, circular economy, smart cities, transportation, and healthcare sectors. EMVC’s investments across Europe, Israel, and the United States span a wide range of technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, materials science, the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced engineering, power electronics, and medical device R&D.

EMVC, founded by Dr. Ilian Iliev, boasts a unique multidisciplinary team with extensive expertise in venture capital, industry engagement, corporate development, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

(Compiled by Song Chenchen)