Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · Uppsala, Sweden
Rarity Bioscience is a technology company.
Rarity Bioscience develops advanced diagnostic technology centered on its proprietary superRCA® platform. This innovative assay is designed for the ultrasensitive detection of rare mutations, a critical capability for precision medicine. The company’s core offering provides highly accurate tools for monitoring minimal residual disease, thereby enhancing diagnostic precision and guiding therapeutic strategies in oncology.
The company was founded in June 2021 as a spin-out from Uppsala University, stemming from the pioneering research of Dr. Lei Chen and Professor Ulf Landegren. Their work, conducted within the Molecular Tools group at the Department of Immunology, Genomics and Pathology, led to the discovery and development of the superRCA® technology. Per Matsson and Mikael Smedeby also co-founded the venture, building upon this academic breakthrough.
Rarity Bioscience serves the clinical diagnostics sector, providing solutions that empower clinicians and researchers with superior tools for cancer care. The company’s long-term vision is to significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier and more precise detection of disease, thereby advancing the field of precision medicine through its sensitive molecular diagnostics.
Rarity Bioscience has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Rarity Bioscience has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rarity Bioscience has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in November 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2022 | $3M Seed | — | Industrifonden, David Sonnek, Uppsala University Holding | Announced |
Rarity Bioscience has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Rarity Bioscience's investors include Industrifonden, David Sonnek, Uppsala University Holding.
Rarity Bioscience is a biotechnology company developing superRCA®, an ultrasensitive multiplex assay for detecting rare nucleic acid sequences, such as cancer mutations, in liquid biopsies or tissue samples with sensitivity down to 1 mutation in 100,000 wild-type molecules.[1][2][3][5] It serves researchers and clinicians in precision medicine, particularly for monitoring measurable residual disease (MRD) in leukemia and solid tumors, by enabling precise detection of rare mutated DNA amid healthy cells using standard flow cytometry readouts.[1][2][5] The technology outperforms digital PCR in sensitivity, supports multiplexing, and is offered as research-use-only service testing or customized kits, with expansion into North America via a U.S. subsidiary signaling growth momentum.[2][3]
Rarity Bioscience was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from Uppsala University and SciLifeLab, stemming from research by PhD student Lei Chen in the lab of SciLifeLab co-founder and professor Ulf Landegren at the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology.[1][2][3] The core idea emerged from combining padlock probes with rolling circle amplification (RCA) into superRCA—a novel two-step RCA process that boosts sensitivity for mutation detection, initially developed as a SciLifeLab Technology Development Project.[1][5] Early traction came from collaborations like SciLifeLab for validation and a co-exclusive distribution deal with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to market superRCA assays globally, enhancing its reach in molecular research.[1][2] CEO Linus Bosaeus leads commercialization, with Ulf Landegren as co-founder and board member.[1][3]
Rarity Bioscience rides the liquid biopsy wave in precision oncology, where early detection of rare mutations drives personalized treatments amid rising cancer prevalence and demand for non-invasive monitoring.[1][2][6] Timing aligns with advances in flow cytometry and MRD needs, outpacing dPCR limits to enable relapse prediction in leukemia patients.[1][2][5] Market forces like growing clinical genomics infrastructure (e.g., SciLifeLab) and U.S. expansion favor scalability, while its spin-out model influences the ecosystem by commercializing academic innovations, bridging research to clinic.[1][3] This positions it to shape ultrasensitive diagnostics, potentially expanding beyond oncology.[1][6]
Rarity Bioscience is poised to capture share in liquid biopsy diagnostics through superRCA's superior sensitivity, with U.S. incorporation and Beckman partnership accelerating adoption.[2][3] Next steps likely include clinical validation for regulatory approval, broader multiplexing for sepsis/infectious diseases, and in situ applications.[1][3] Trends like AI-enhanced cytometry and precision medicine reimbursement will propel growth, evolving its role from research tool to clinical standard—transforming rare mutation detection from elusive to routine, much like how spin-outs have democratized genomics tools before.[1][2][6]