INDIA – Indian biotechnology startup CrisprBits has raised US$250,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by US-based VJ Group to expand its molecular diagnostics business.
CrisprBits is one of the first Indian companies using CRISPR, a breakthrough gene-editing technology, to develop high-quality solutions in the life sciences that all Indians can afford.
Its scientists have harnessed the power of CRISPR to develop therapeutics and other biotechnological products in the domains of human, plant & microbial bio-engineering.
Backed by a US$250,000 pre-seed funding, the biotech startup plans to invest in product development, team expansion, and research and development (R&D) activities.
The funds will fuel the development of its CRISPR-based diagnostics platform to point-of-care detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with hospital-acquired infections.
In addition to its upcoming ‘PATHCRISP’ point of care platform, CrisprBits will explore new therapeutic strategies in gene editing for oncology, cardio-vascular applications, and industrial biotechnology applications.
The investment follows CrisprBits’s latest breakthrough in diagnostic technology in line with its commitment to infectious disease surveillance and one health.
The Bengaluru-based company has recently developed OmiCrisp, a CRISPR- based test to detect SARS-CoV2 and to determine whether it is an Omicron or non-Omicron variant.
In a press release, CrisprBits said: “OmiCrisp was developed with support and collaboration from the C-CAMP-InDx (Indigenisation of Diagnostics Program), an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.”
Since its inception in 2020, the company has transformed from a domestic aftermarket player to an 80% export original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier.
Sunil Arora, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CrisprBits, outlined that the company was founded to address critical healthcare needs through the use of a breakthrough technology like CRISPR.
“The new investment will accelerate our next phase of growth and allow us to develop many more high-quality healthcare solutions in diagnostics and gene editing,” said Arora.
He welcomed the VJ Group as strategic investors for CrisprBits while lauding the CrisprBits team for overseeing the development of innovative products that have significant public health and social impact.
The CrisprBits team comprises industry veterans with a deep understanding of genomic science and a track record of running successful businesses.
The team has a wealth of experience in developing diagnostics, precision medicine, and clinical research solutions used by clinicians in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in India and worldwide.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
