Sherlock Biosciences develops a decentralized diagnostic platform for DNA and RNA detection powered by CRISPR and synthetic biology. Its proprietary engineering biology tools include CRISPR-based SHERLOCK™ and synthetic biology-based INSPECTR™, which aim to combine PCR-level accuracy with the convenience of antigen tests. The platform is designed for use without complex instrumentation, making it suitable for the home and low-resource settings. Potential applications cited include infectious disease, early cancer detection, treatment monitoring, and precision medicine. The company plans to use recent funding to expand its products and partnerships. Sherlock also achieved the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology in 2020 and is led by CEO Bryan Dechairo. Sherlock Biosciences develops molecular diagnostics using its SHERLOCK CRISPR platform and the instrument-free INSPECTR synthetic biology platform. INSPECTR enables instrument-free, room-temperature tests that can be formatted as paper strips or electrochemical readouts readable by a mobile phone, and can be adapted for laboratory or point-of-care settings. The company positions INSPECTR to decentralize testing and enable low-cost at-home diagnostics, including an over-the-counter disposable product similar to a pregnancy test for SARS-CoV-2. Sherlock says it aims to advance INSPECTR to be as sensitive as gold-standard PCR tests. The company received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA in May 2020 for its Sherlock CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. Financially, Sherlock announced a $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund INSPECTR development and OTC product work. Sherlock Biosciences develops molecular diagnostics through its CRISPR-based SHERLOCK platform and a synthetic-biology INSPECTR platform. INSPECTR is an instrument-free, handheld diagnostic approach that can be programmed to detect nucleic acid targets at room temperature and generate a visible reporter output for at-home and low-resource use. The company is launching the Sherlock Innovation Lab in Cambridge to scale INSPECTR for at-home COVID-19 testing and is hiring industry and academic experts to accelerate development. Open Philanthropy is advancing a $7.5 million grant to support INSPECTR COVID-19 test development, building on a prior $17.5 million non-dilutive grant awarded in 2019. Sherlock also received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for its Sherlock CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. Non-profit partners including MassBio, MassMEDIC and Gloucester Biotechnology Academy are participating to deploy talent and support the lab's work. Sherlock Biosciences develops molecular diagnostics platforms that leverage CRISPR and synthetic biology to deliver accurate, rapid, and low-cost tests. Its core technologies are SHERLOCK, a CRISPR-based method for detecting specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR, a synthetic-biology platform that can distinguish targets at room temperature without complex instruments. Both platforms are designed for use in virtually any setting and target applications including precision oncology, infectious disease, low-resource and field testing, agriculture, food safety, and at-home tests. The company launched in March and plans to use new funding to advance development programs for these platform technologies. Sherlock is also incorporating Deep Learning and AI expertise from investors to refine and expand its platforms. Financially, the company announced additional Series A investment of over $31 million and reports total committed capital of $49 million, which includes a $17.5 million non-dilutive grant from the Open Philanthropy Project.

Total raised

$124M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Mar 2022