Epic Sciences, a US-based cancer blood test developer backed by corporates Genomic Health, Pfizer and Roche, raised $52m on Wednesday in a series E round led by investment firm Blue Ox Healthcare Partners.
The company did not name any additional investors in the series E round. Blue Ox typically invests up to a maximum of $30m per round.
Epic Sciences has developed a cancer diagnostics platform that relies on a liquid biopsy, and which exploits computer vision and machine learning technologies to determine the most efficient treatment.
The company’s first product, AR-V7, is a predictive test for late-stage metastatic prostate cancer. The test is distributed exclusively in the US by genetic research producer Genomic Health.
The series E capital will be used to fund clinical studies for assets currently in Epic’s pipeline as well as to drive long-term growth.
Genome Health took part in a $40m series D round for Epic in May 2017 that was led by private equity firm Hermed Capital and backed by RMI Partners, Domain Associates, Pagoda Investment, Reach Tone, Sabby Capital and VI Ventures.
Roche Venture Fund and Pfizer Ventures, respective subsidiaries of pharmaceutical firms Roche and Pfizer, invested in the company’s $30m series C round in 2014 alongside Domain Associates, RMI Partners, Arcus Ventures and various private investors.
Epic Sciences had already secured $13m in series B funding from Roche, Pfizer and Domain Associates in 2012. Venrock reportedly backed a $2.5m series A round for the company in 2009, but that information could not be confirmed.