NuProbe develops high-sensitivity genomics panels utilizing Blocker Displacement Amplification and Quantitative Amplicon Sequencing to detect low-frequency mutations, gene fusions, and copy number variations in cancer research. Their technology enables clinical and research laboratories to accurately identify rare genetic variants from both tissue and cell-free DNA samples, enhancing precision in oncology diagnostics.
Funding
$111.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Detecting low-frequency mutations, gene fusions, and copy number variations (CNVs) in cancer samples is challenging due to the limited sensitivity of traditional genomics methods. This limitation hinders accurate identification of rare genetic variants from tissue and cell-free DNA, impacting precision in oncology research and diagnostics.
Solution
NuProbe develops and validates high-sensitivity genomics panels that enable the detection and quantification of difficult-to-identify DNA biomarkers. The company's core technology combines Blocker Displacement Amplification (BDA) and Quantitative Amplicon Sequencing (QASeq) to enrich rare alleles and detect mutations and CNVs with high sensitivity. BDA uses PCR to selectively amplify low-abundance sequence variants down to 0.01% variant allele frequency (VAF). QASeq leverages NGS with unique molecular identifiers (UMIs) and highly multiplexed, partially nested PCR primer design. NuProbe's assays can be applied across multiple platforms and are designed for both cell-free DNA and tissue specimens.
Target Audience
NuProbe's primary customers include clinical and research laboratories focused on cancer research, as well as pharmaceutical companies developing biomarker-driven therapies.
Features
- Blocker Displacement Amplification (BDA) for selective amplification of low-abundance sequence variants down to 0.01% VAF
- Quantitative Amplicon Sequencing (QASeq), an NGS-based method using UMIs and multiplexed PCR for high-sensitivity mutation and CNV detection
- Ability to detect CNVs down to 5% heterozygous single copy gain or loss
- VarMap Pan-Cancer NGS Panel for detecting mutations down to 0.1% VAF from cfDNA samples using only 1 million NGS reads
- VarMap Pan-Cancer NGS Panel application to FFPE tumor samples for MRD detection, detecting mutations down to 0.01% VAF
- SADDLE approach for computational primer design to minimize primer-dimer formation in multiplex PCR
- Custom assay development services for biomarker detection programs