Craif raises $22 million to bring AI cancer tests to the US
Craif, a Japanese startup developing an AI-powered early cancer detection software, has raised $22 million in Series C funding, bringing its total raised to $57 million. The funding round was led by existing investor X&KSK and included new investors Unreasonable Group, TAUNS Laboratories, Daiwa House Industry, and Aozora Bank Group.
The company, spun off from Nagoya University in 2018, uses microRNA (miRNA) to detect cancer at an early stage through a non-invasive urine-based test. Craif’s co-founder and CEO, Ryuichi Onose, stated that the test can be conducted from the comfort of a patient’s home and is powered by advanced miRNA analysis.
Craif’s technology differentiates itself from competitors by using miRNA as a biomarker instead of cfDNA (cell-free DNA) and utilizing urine. Onose explained that miRNA is proactively secreted by early cancer cells, making it particularly suitable for early cancer detection. The use of urine also provides several benefits, including fewer impurities and clearer biomarker signals.
Craif’s first product, miSignal, detects the risk of seven different cancers (pancreatic, colorectal, lung, stomach, esophagus, breast, and ovarian) using urinary miRNA. The product is already generating revenues in Japan through clinics, pharmacies, direct-to-consumer sales, and corporate wellness programs. The company has partnered with over 1000 medical institutions and about 600 pharmacies in Japan, serving around 20,000 users.
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The revenue model offers both single tests and subscription packages for regular testing, with many users opting for subscription plans. Craif posted $5 million in revenue in 2024 and aims to generate $15 million by the end of the year. The company plans to broaden the scope of miSignal to include ten different types of cancers this year and is also exploring the use of its technology for the early detection of non-cancerous diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders like dementia.
The new funding will help Craif enter the U.S. market with its microRNA-based early cancer detection test. The company has already begun collecting pancreatic cancer samples in collaboration with 30 medical institutions across 15 U.S. states and plans to complete trials in the U.S. around 2029, followed by filing for FDA approval. Craif has its R&D lab in Irvine, California, and plans to open another office in San Diego to handle its business operations.