Guardant Health Secures $100 Million Series D Funding to Advance Liquid Biopsy Platform Guardant360®

Guardant Health, an emerging medical technology company based in California, USA, announced the completion of its $100 million Series D financing round. The round was led by OrbiMed, with participation from Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Pejman Mar, Formation 8, and Heritage Group.

The company was founded in 2012 by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs, many of whom are experts in fields such as next-generation sequencing technology, single-cell genomics, and cancer diagnostics.

Guardant Health focuses on the diagnosis and management of cancer, aiming to identify the optimal real-time treatment regimen for specific tumor cells in patients. The company continuously develops new technologies and files new patents, striving to achieve comprehensive, real-time cancer monitoring through a simple blood test.

It is understood that the proceeds from this round of financing will be used to expedite the enhancement of Guardant360®, a platform offering free biopsy testing and gene sequencing for cancer patients.

Guardant360® is a free circulating tumor DNA screening technology built on proprietary DNA sequencing, primarily used for non-invasive blood sample screening. It helps clinicians determine whether patients with advanced cancer have developed somatic gene mutations, allowing physicians to monitor these genetic changes in real time and administer appropriate therapies.

Approximately two years ago, the company launched its first commercial blood-based cancer screening product, Guardant360®, which is low-cost, low-risk, and eliminates the need for invasive biopsies, thereby paving the way for novel approaches in cancer diagnosis. The “70-gene blood test” is designed for patients with advanced-stage cancer to assess the current status of visceral solid tumors or their metastatic trends, and it can accurately detect all four types of genetic mutations.

This test can help avoid repeat invasive biopsies when cancer progresses or recurs and requires retreatment, or when the initial biopsy yields insufficient tissue or patient information. Without insurance coverage, a biopsy can cost up to $10,000; it is not only expensive but also carries certain risks.

Circulating DNA is present in human peripheral blood, originating from cellular necrosis, apoptosis, and secretion. Circulating DNA released by tumor cells is referred to as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). ctDNA serves as a non-invasive biomarker for quantifying the extent of cancer in patients. This assay method is more effective, cost-efficient, and sensitive than existing techniques. Moreover, only “ctDNA testing” can comprehensively include all necessary targeted genomic analyses across somatic cells. Unlike hotspot testing, Guardant360® performs whole-exon sequencing to avoid missing rare or previously unreported mutations. Based on the obtained tumor genomic data, clinicians receive an actionable report detailing gene mutations, along with a list of U.S. FDA-approved therapies and clinical trials relevant to the patient’s condition. This approach provides a more comprehensive and objective assessment, ensuring that patients receive qualified and satisfactory care.

Guardant Health will also leverage this funding to further expand its digital sequencing platform-related products and vigorously build a comprehensive, continuous new line of cancer products.

Helmy Eltoukhy, CEO of Guardant Health, stated in a press release: “Genomic technology is a powerful tool fundamentally transforming cancer therapy. With the emergence of new targeted cancer treatments, our platform has become even more robust. Oncologists have recognized the value of our company, and a growing number of investors are turning their attention to us. This new round of financing drives our innovation across multiple domains—including technology, science, commercialization, and reimbursement operations—giving us full confidence even in the face of the world’s most discerning healthcare investors. Given the large population of cancer patients, we are committed to doing everything possible to help treat as many patients as we can, leveraging our platform to proactively combat cancer and restore health.”

It is reported that in February 2015, Guardant Health completed a Series C financing round of nearly $90 million, which was used to promote and market Guardant360®.

Text | Chen Kun