Lucira Health will use the funding to support early commercialization and regulatory clearances of its rapid and disposable test kit that can detect the DNA and RNA of infectious diseases
Image: Sunstone Management invests in Lucira Health. Photo: Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay
Sunstone Management has invested in Lucira Health, formerly Diassess, a next generation infectious disease testing company.
Lucira Health has closed on its $15 million Series B equity financing, which will be utilized for early commercialization and regulatory clearances. Sunstone was joined by a number of notable investors in this funding effort, including Seraph Group.
Lucira Health is developing a revolutionary rapid and disposable test kit that can quickly and easily detect the DNA and RNA of infectious diseases, starting with one affecting millions of Americans each year: the flu. Additional applications for other infectious diseases include respiratory illnesses and sexually transmitted infections.
Lucira Health’s device allows users to run diagnostic tests and receive rapid results outside of a lab environment. Users insert a nasal swab into the battery-powered diagnostic tool and receive results within 20 minutes, promising faster and less expensive testing. Lucira Health plans to first launch the tool for in-clinic use, followed by an over-the-counter version that will bring diagnostic testing directly to consumers’ homes with a paired smartphone app to directly connect to treatment options.
“Sunstone is thrilled to be a part of this Series B raise,” said John Shen, founding partner of Sunstone Management. “Lucira Health is on the cutting edge of medical technology and promises to revolutionize diagnostic testing, and the health care industry as a whole, by vastly reducing the need for patients to visit a costly lab or hospital environment.”
The successful $15 million Series B raise augments impressive early fundraising from investors like Seraph Group, along with substantial grants and sizeable contracts from U.S. government agencies.
Erik Engelson, Lucira Health’s president and CEO, commented: “We look forward to participating in the healthcare transformation that will be enabled by this exciting technology as it makes its way into the clinic and ultimately into people’s homes. The support of our existing and new investors is enabling the development and commercialization of valuable new products that will contribute to improved healthcare.”
Source: Company Press Release