Singapore, April 2, 2024 – In a significant stride toward redefining the landscape of healthcare through epigenomics, Auristone is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its latest US$4 million seed funding round. This financial endorsement, led by Elev8.vc and joined by SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, with a significant follow-on investment from Genedant, underscores the shared confidence in Auristone’s mission to advance precision medicine through epigenomic solutions.
Auristone’s flagship molecular profiling test, EPI-CALL™, is designed to help doctors and patients navigate the complexities of therapy selection for late-stage cancer patients. Using epigenomics – the science of how genes are expressed – Auristone can predict an individual patient’s likelihood of response to different treatment options, helping doctors determine the best possible treatment plans for their patients.
Looking ahead, Mr Chew Jing Ming, CEO and Co-Founder of Auristone, said, “In order to continually deliver value for the community, we will partner with regional genomic companies to offer EPI-CALL™ and deepen clinical collaborations to gain new epigenomic insights.”
Prof. Teh Bin Tean, Co-Founder of Auristone and a luminary in the field of epigenomics, shared his vision for the future, stating, “As we transit from the genomic to the epigenomic era, it is clear that the latter holds the key to unlocking unprecedented advancements in precision medicine. Auristone is poised to lead this transformative wave.”
Singapore’s Research, Innovation & Enterprise (RIE) ecosystem has been instrumental in supporting Auristone. Organisations such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Enterprise Singapore’s relentless advocacy for innovation has nurtured a conducive Biomedical ecosystem whose collective support has been the cornerstone of the company’s progress.
Reflecting on the journey, Mr Chew, a 2013 Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Fellow, further expressed, “The Biodesign methodology has been extremely useful in steering Auristone towards this milestone. Our journey has also been significantly enriched by the early partnerships with and support from A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub).”
Ms Irene Cheong, Executive Director of A*STAR’s Innovation & Enterprise Group (Venture Creation & Growth and Human Health & Potential), remarked, “Auristone is a testament to the potential within Singapore’s vibrant Biomedical landscape. As an A*STAR spinoff, Auristone demonstrates how scientific capabilities combined with entrepreneurial zeal can pave the way to better healthcare outcomes. A*STAR, as a strategic innovation engine for the RIE ecosystem, provides a continuum of support for spinoffs to develop and commercialise novel biomedical technologies, to bring about health and social benefits in Singapore and beyond.”
This infusion of capital will be strategically deployed to enhance Auristone’s capabilities through clinical collaborations, and to drive market adoption of EPI-CALL™ by working closely with regional genomic companies.
Mr Aditya Mathur, Managing Director of Elev8.vc, affirmed his strong stance of support, “The human epigenome is the next frontier for unlocking precision healthcare. Auristone stands out in this field, with their ability to profile molecules and predict their medical interactions using epigenomics biomarkers. In addition, Auristone is focused on precision medicine to address underserved Asian diseases and cohorts. We are pleased to be part of this meaningful journey.”
Ms Tan Kaixin, General Manager of SEEDS Capital, said, “Auristone is pushing the envelope in the field of Precision Diagnostics. It has added to the availability and quality of Singapore’s multi-omics data through epigenomics testing, and strengthened the industry’s push towards personalised, predictive therapies. SEEDS Capital looks forward to supporting Auristone as it scales into new markets such as South Korea, Japan and beyond. We are excited to partner with the team to further the adoption of epigenomics in genomic testing and create better, personalised healthcare.”
About Auristone
Auristone is at the forefront of epigenomic research and innovation, dedicated to harnessing the power of epigenomic insights to transform the field of precision medicine and committed to developing cutting-edge diagnostics and therapeutic solutions that prioritize patient care. Through EPI-CALL™ (a comprehensive epigenomic profiling test to support therapy selection for late stage cancer patients), Signomax™ (a sample-to-report ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq service to support research endeavours), and EPI-Tome™ (an epigenomic-driven novel biomarker and drug discovery engine), Auristone offers a range of service offering to engage actively with her partners. Auristone aspires to lead the charge in delivering transformative healthcare solutions that anticipate and address the evolving needs of patients across the globe. For more information, visit https://www.auristone.com/.
About Our Partners
Elev8.vc is Singapore’s leading early stage deep-tech VC. The fund invests in and supports promising early-stage companies who develop innovative breakthroughs in technologies or engineering. Elev8.vc companies have ambitious goals to redefine how business gets done. Elev8.vc’s primarily invests in Smart Mobility, Medtech, Novel Materials, and Complex Computing. As a high-conviction, high-support fund, the team at Elev8.vc looks to continue supporting the audacious founders that are leading the change in these enterprise sectors. More information is available at https://elev8.vc/.
As the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, SEEDS Capital catalyses smart investments into innovative Singapore-based early-stage startups with strong intellectual content and global market potential. SEEDS Capital adopts a co-investment model, working hand in hand with institutional investors from around the world. Leveraging its collective expertise and networks, SEEDS Capital helps startups commercialise, realise their business development plans, and expand globally. SEEDS Capital focuses its investments into emerging and strategic sectors aligned with national priorities, including Manufacturing, Trade & Connectivity, Human Health & Potential, Urban Solutions & Sustainability, and Smart Nation & Digital Economy. More information is available at https://www.seedscapital.sg/.
Genedant stands as a beacon of support for early stage, deep-tech start-ups spanning domain applications across the Bio-Revolution. Leveraging a network of high technical expertise, Genedant invests in and supports portfolio companies globally, with a focus on Asia or with an Asian expansion angle. More information is available at https://www.genedant.com/.
