DELFI Diagnostics is a Palo Alto–based developer of blood-based cancer detection tests that use fragmentomics and advanced machine-learning methods applied to whole-genome sequencing data. The platform analyzes patterns of cell-free DNA fragments to detect chaotic signatures left by cancer cells. DELFI has commercialized FirstLook Lung, a blood test that evaluates DNA fragment patterns to indicate the presence of lung cancer. In an independent validation, FirstLook Lung demonstrated 80% sensitivity in a screening population, including early-stage detection, and a 99.8% negative predictive value. The company received an equity investment from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and intends to use the funds to accelerate development and commercialization of its cancer detection solutions. Led by CEO Susan Tousi, DELFI positions its fragmentomics and AI technologies as a potential high-precision, population-scale approach to early cancer detection at a disruptive price. Delfi Diagnostics has built a platform that analyzes cell-free DNA fragments across the entire genome using a proprietary, scalable whole-genome fragmentation approach. The platform is designed to enable a single, low-cost, and straightforward lab process for multiple liquid-biopsy tests and leverages machine learning to deliver high-performing results. Led by CEO and founder Victor Velculescu, the company is validating its technology for early detection of lung and other cancers in a 15,000-person prospective trial called CASCADE-LUNG. Delfi is working with multiple research institutions to develop additional applications including screening for other cancer types, multi-cancer early detection, and treatment monitoring. The company intends to use the funds raised to continue development and commercialization of single-cancer early detection, multi-cancer early detection, and treatment-monitoring blood tests. Headquarters are listed in Palo Alto, CA and Baltimore, MD. Delfi Diagnostics is a Baltimore-based company developing a new class of high-performance, affordable liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection. Its platform leverages machine learning and genome-wide fragmentation profiles of cell-free DNA to detect evidence of tumors from a blood sample and to pinpoint tumor location. The company is applying this platform to a range of products to detect specific cancers, such as lung cancer in at-risk individuals, and to identify multiple cancers in any individual. Delfi plans to use the funding to expand its team of cancer researchers and machine learning experts and to validate its next-generation liquid biopsy technology through multiple prospective clinical studies. Financially, Delfi raised $100M in a Series A financing led by OrbiMed. The company is led by founder and CEO Victor Velculescu.

Total raised

$325M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Jul 2022