OneCell Diagnostics raises $16 M in Series A Funding round

OneCell will expand to the US market with its next-generation liquid biopsy test, OncoIndx Ikon

OneCell Diagnostics, a genomics-based precision oncology company, has raised $16 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by Celesta Capital, with participation from Tenacity Ventures, Cedars Sinai, Eragon, and Singularity Ventures. The funding will be used to advance its vision of democratising precision oncology through cancer diagnostic testing that is more accessible, actionable, and affordable. Celesta Capital Founding Managing Partner Michael Marks and Nobel Laureate and Celesta Capital Senior Advisor Dr James Rothman will join the OneCell board of directors.

OneCell has developed cutting-edge technology for precision oncology liquid biopsy diagnostics. Their cancer screening tests are based on a proprietary Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) and True-Single-Cell-Multi-omics platform, supporting a range of applications in clinical cancer care and early-stage clinical trials for biotech and pharma companies. OneCell's cell biopsy technology integrates CTC-DNA with CTC-RNA and cell surface protein testing, all from a single blood draw, a significant advancement over current 'liquid biopsy' testing.

"We see a future where everyone has access to high-quality, life-saving cancer testing and this funding is a powerful validation of our vision," said Mohan Uttarwar, CEO and Co-founder, OneCell Diagnostics. "By integrating our single-cell multi-omics analytics with next-generation liquid biopsy approaches, we have the opportunity to break new ground in delivering accurate, personalised cancer care worldwide."

With this Series A funding, OneCell will expand to the US market with its next-generation liquid biopsy test, OncoIndx Ikon. The test detects and analyses CTCs, which offer rich biomarkers that advance precision diagnosis and treatment of cancer for use cases including treatment response monitoring, disease progression, recurrence, and more. Through its global operations in Silicon Valley and  India, the company has already introduced a range of products in India, where it has tested nearly ten thousand patients to date and demonstrated that its cell biopsy technology can be implemented easily, safely, and cost-effectively at any lab worldwide. The company's growing list of strategic academic and industry partners include Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, and other leading medical institutions.

"Celesta is excited about differentiated companies sitting at the intersection of high tech and biomedical science, and OneCell fits this mould perfectly," said Michael Marks, Founding Managing Partner at Celesta Capital. "By leveraging the strategic benefits of the U.S. - India corridor, OneCell is well-positioned to continue building competitive advantages. We pride ourselves on being active value-add investors and Celesta will tap our ecosystem to support their growth wherever possible."

"I'm looking forward to joining the OneCell Board at such a pivotal time in the arc of innovation for cancer treatment," said Dr James Rothman, Nobel Laureate and Celesta Capital Advisor. "Cell biopsy represents a groundbreaking shift in how we approach diagnostics, creating more opportunities for highly individualised care. This technology has the potential to reshape the oncology landscape, and we are eager to support OneCell's bold mission to reach more than 1000 oncologists and 1 million patients in the near future."