Craif raises $33 million to develop cancer testing platform in the US
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Craif raises $33 million to develop cancer testing platform in the US

Craif has successfully raised approximately $33 million in a Series D funding round, which will be used to advance early cancer detection technologies. This round included $30.7 million in equity and $3.3 million in debt.

The financing was led by Granite-Integral and Tauns Co., with participation from Unreasonable and X&KSK. Investors in the round included institutional and private investors from Japan, Singapore, and the United States. Thanks to this funding, Craif's total capital raised since its founding in 2018 has reached approximately $88 million.

The company develops artificial intelligence-based tools that analyze microRNA from urine samples. Its core platform, miSignal, provides non-invasive cancer testing. Craif claims that this technology can detect signs of diseases even before symptoms become pronounced.

The new capital will be used by Craif to strengthen its research and development activities in the United States. Furthermore, the company plans to prepare for the launch of its cancer test targeted at the reimbursement system. Another priority is submitting an application to Japanese regulatory authorities for the software as a medical device.

The program targets the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Craif reports that miSignal is already available in over 2,500 medical institutions and is offered through 4,500 pharmacies across Japan. According to available data, more than 110,000 tests have been conducted.

The company has also published over 90 peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations. Craif has established partnerships with 30 medical institutions in 15 US states and opened a bio-AI laboratory in San Diego in April 2026.

Co-founder and CEO of Craif, Ryuiti Onose, moved to San Diego to lead the company's operations in the US. The company emphasizes that this move reflects the significance of the American healthcare market. The new San Diego lab will support promising clinical research on pancreatic cancer.

This research will help gather the necessary evidence for regulatory compliance and reimbursement requirements. Craif has also appointed Nicolas Bevin as Chief Medical Officer. Bevin holds medical and scientific qualifications from Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts and is a certified clinical pathologist with experience in biotechnology and diagnostic companies. This appointment strengthens Craif's capabilities in clinical development.

It also supports the company's efforts to integrate its technology into the US healthcare system. Pancreatic cancer remains difficult to diagnose early, often requiring imaging, blood tests, and biopsy during diagnosis. Craif believes that urine can offer a simpler path to detecting early signs of the disease. The company's platform combines patented biomarker detection with artificial intelligence.

Craif's long-term strategy extends beyond a single cancer test; the company is developing a broader urine analysis platform for multiple diseases. The technology focuses on microRNA, which can provide biological signals associated with diseases. Craif aims to integrate these signals with AI to improve early detection, viewing cancer as the first stage of this broader strategy. The company intends to create one of the world's largest urine analysis databases for studying diseases, and the new funding provides it with additional resources to achieve this goal, as well as capital to prepare for regulation and expansion in the US market.

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Infinimmune raises $75 million to advance human antibody pipeline
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Infinimmune raises $75 million to advance human antibody pipeline

Infinimmune has successfully raised $75 million in a Series A funding round, with the funds designated for advancing its therapeutic antibody pipeline. Regeneron Ventures and Playground Global participated as co-lead investors in this round, alongside several other existing investors.

The attracted capital follows significant progress made within Infinimmune's discovery platform and therapeutic programs. The biotechnology company plans to develop two leading candidates for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Human trials for both programs are anticipated to commence in 2027.

This recent round reflects growing investor interest in human-derived antibody discovery technologies. This approach focuses on identifying antibodies naturally selected by the human immune system, which can then be optimized for therapeutic efficacy.

Infinimmune's Anthrobody platform analyzes millions of memory B cells across hundreds of different targets. This process allows for the identification of naturally associated human antibodies possessing beneficial therapeutic properties. Subsequently, the company utilizes the GLIMPSE antibody language models to guide the candidate optimization process.

This method aims to improve parameters such as specificity, potency, half-life, and developability. The company's lead candidate, IFX-101, targets interleukin-22 and is described as a potential first-class monoclonal antibody for atopic dermatitis. The second candidate, IFX-201, targets interleukin-13 and is being developed as a potentially superior treatment option.

Atopic dermatitis affects patients with chronic skin inflammation and recurring symptoms. While existing biologics have improved treatment options for many patients, some still face difficulties achieving sustained control over the condition. Infinimmune believes that enhancing potency and dosing convenience can address these limitations by aiming to create antibodies that maintain activity for longer periods.

In March 2026, Infinimmune entered into a collaboration agreement for discovering multi-target antibodies with Merck. This agreement includes upfront payments and potential milestone payments of up to approximately $838 million. The partnership focuses on Infinimmune's Anthrobody platform and GLIMPSE technology.

This collaboration further validates the company's human-centric strategy. The platform begins with antibodies generated naturally in response to human immune reactions. Infinimmune then applies computational and laboratory methods to enhance their therapeutic characteristics, which differs from methods heavily reliant on synthetic antibody libraries. The company believes its process can accelerate antibody discovery and optimization. Playground Global has supported Infinimmune since its inception.

Benjamin Kim noted that the platform possesses strong characteristics regarding potency, half-life, and developability. Regeneron Ventures also joined the round as a co-lead. This funding brings additional knowledge as Infinimmune prepares for clinical development.

The new capital will be used to prepare IFX-101 and IFX-201 for human studies expected in 2027. Clinical trials will allow for the first major assessment of these candidates in human patients, and their results may influence the company's overall development strategy. The company will also advance additional human-centric biology-based programs. Its platform is designed to identify antibodies against hundreds of potential therapeutic targets, opening opportunities to build a broader pipeline beyond atopic dermatitis. Thus, Infinimmune views its discovery technology as a long-term growth driver. The latest funding also strengthens its ability to scale the use of Anthrobody.

Aurelius Systems raises $40 million in Series A round to develop autonomous defense platform
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Aurelius Systems raises $40 million in Series A round to develop autonomous defense platform

Aurelius Systems has successfully raised $40 million in a Series A round, with the funds intended to be used by the company to expand production, increase operational activities, and support the supply chain in the United States amid growing demand for high-performance drone countermeasures.

Draper Associates and KAS Venture Partners participated in the round, leading the process, along with General Catalyst, Hanwha Defense USA, Outlander, Alumni Ventures, Bravo Victor Venture Capital, Detroit Venture Partners, Decisive Point, and other investors.

The new funding reflects the increasing need for autonomous defense technologies as governments increase spending on drone countermeasure capabilities. Defense organizations are seeking systems capable of rapidly responding to evolving aerial threats while reducing operating costs and enhancing mission readiness.

The received funds will accelerate the technical development and increase the production capacity of Aurelius's flagship defense platform, Archimedes. The company also plans to achieve vertical integration to strengthen production readiness and significantly reduce risks of long-term supply chain disruptions.

This strategy improves access to necessary materials supporting reliable production and future expansion of product output across various defense markets. In addition to Archimedes, the company plans to expand its product range and enter additional segments of the global defense industry.

CEO Michael Laframbois noted that coordinated drone attacks have fundamentally changed the modern global defense landscape. He emphasized that Archimedes was developed as a scalable platform to protect people, infrastructure, assets, and critical defense targets.

Aurelius Systems, based in San Francisco, develops AI-based autonomous air defense systems utilizing robotics and directed energy. These technologies allow for the detection, tracking, and neutralization of aerial threats without the need for constant human intervention during active operations worldwide.

Archimedes is an autonomous laser anti-drone system designed to protect military forces and critical infrastructure from attacks. This platform provides faster response times and lower operational costs compared to many traditional air defense systems today.

Autonomous directed energy technology ensures continuous protection against increasingly sophisticated and rapidly evolving drone threats globally. Andy Tang from Draper Associates praised Aurelius for demonstrating key technologies and successfully building strategic deployment partnerships.

The financing followed a series of important operational achievements by Aurelius. He stated that these successes position Aurelius as a leader in autonomous directed energy systems—from concept to commercial deployment and adoption.

Recently, the company entered into an integration partnership with American Rheinmetall to expand the deployment capabilities of the Archimedes platform. Furthermore, it completed compatibility testing with control and management systems during Operation Jailbreak and successfully tested its platform under the T-REX 26-2 program.

These achievements have strengthened confidence in the platform's readiness for future defense deployments while supporting further investment in manufacturing capabilities. Aurelius is currently hiring 19 people and expects to grow its staff to over 40 employees by the end of 2026 as production scales up.

The Series A round allows Aurelius to scale up production and ensure long-term manufacturing sustainability in the United States. The company is investing in domestic supply chain infrastructure alongside strategic partnerships to improve delivery times and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

As autonomous aerial threats become more prevalent in military and critical infrastructure environments, Aurelius aims to provide scalable, AI-based protective systems that can be rapidly deployed across various sectors.

This latest investment provides the resources needed to expand the company's production capacity, strengthen its technological platform, and accelerate deliveries to customers amidst the continued growth of the autonomous defense technology market.

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