Tvaster Genkalp, a molecular diagnostics startup, has raised $1.25 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Ideaspring Capital. The round also saw participation from existing investors, including Invigo Softwares and Prof. Mohamed Rela, also participated in the round.
The fresh funds will be used to accelerate the expansion and commercialisation of Episcreen Liver, a liquid biopsy test designed for early liver cancer detection based on methylation technology.
Dr Srikar Raman, Co-founder of Tvaster Genkalp, said, “The funding will accelerate nationwide deployment of Episcreen™ Liver, offering a non-invasive, highly accurate diagnostic alternative for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer.”
“We see immense potential in Tvaster’s approach, not just for initial diagnosis but also for monitoring recurrence in patients undergoing treatment. Their liquid biopsy test, Episcreen Liver, has been developed and validated using over 600 patient samples, achieving 90% sensitivity and specificity for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early detection can significantly improve survival rates and ensure patients receive curative treatment early on,” said Naganand Doraiswany, MD at Ideaspring Capital.
Founded in 2021 by Dr Srikar Raman and K Sreedurgalakshmi, Tvaster Genkalp develops diagnostic solutions using proprietary epigenetic screening technologies.
Its flagship product, Episcreen Liver, achieves 90% sensitivity, compared to the 50% sensitivity of traditional Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) tests, significantly improving early detection and survival rates by over 70%.
Tvaster Genkalp also plans to expand its research and development and strengthen its oncology product pipeline, including tests for Cholangiocarcinoma and pediatric hepatoblastoma.
