US-based prenatal diagnostics technology developer Sera Prognostics collected $36m in a series D round yesterday that featured life sciences research company Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp).
Investment firm Blue Ox Healthcare Partners co-led the round with two unnamed healthcare companies. The round additionally included Domain Associates, InterWest Partners, Catalyst Health Ventures and Chione.
Founded in 2008, Sera Prognostics has created a blood testing system, PreTRM, that offers a personalised, early prediction of an expectant mother’s risk of giving birth prematurely or suffering from complications during pregnancy.
The company exploits research licensed from Brigham Young University and University of Utah.
The latest round will enable Sera to bolster commercialisation efforts for PreTRM.
LabCorp previously led a $40m series C round in January 2017, investing alongside undisclosed existing shareholders.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation backed a $25m series B round in 2015 together with Osage University Partners, Chione, Domain Associates, InterWest Partners, Catalyst Health Ventures and UpStart Life Sciences Capital.
Sera had already closed a $19.3m series A round in 2011 co-led by InterWest Partners, Domain Associates and Catalyst Health Ventures, and with participation from Osage University Partners and UpStart Life Sciences Capital.
