Precision medicine company Aqtual has secured $31m in a Series B financing round to progress its active chromatin cell-free DNA (cfDNA) platform and launch a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy response prediction test.
The round saw participation from new investors Bold Capital and Bold Longevity Growth Fund, alongside previous investors Manta Ray Ventures, Genoa Ventures and Yu Galaxy.
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A strategic investor from the diagnostics sector also contributed, bolstering Aqtual’s commercialisation efforts.
In the PRIMA-102 prospective observational trial, the company has already enrolled 1,300 participants, aiming to validate the cfDNA-based blood test for RA patients. The study’s completion is projected for the fourth quarter of this year.
Subjects in the PRIMA-102 trial will be monitored through screening and baseline visits before the initiation of new biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) or targeted synthetic DMARD (tsDMARD) therapy.
The trial aims to evaluate the test utilising genetic, transcriptomic, and/or epigenetic data to help clinicians predict the best treatment alternatives for RA subjects.
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By GlobalDataAt 12-week follow-ups, the trial will measure treatment response and disease activity, with blood samples and clinical outcome assessments taken at baseline and the 12-week mark.
The company noted that in the US, RA is a significant health concern, contributing more than $19bn every year in direct healthcare expenses.
Aqtual CEO and co-founder Diana Abdueva said: 鈥淭his raise marks a key inflection point for cfDNA diagnostics鈥攏ot just for Aqtual, but for the broader field.
鈥淥ur platform uniquely captures the biology of chronic disease, enabling deeper insights to support more effective treatment planning strategies.
“With this funding, strengthened by backing from a strategic partner, we鈥檙e positioned to advance our internal pipeline and forge new partnerships that extend the impact of our platform across disease areas.鈥�
