Early cancer detection startup Craif raises $22M

Cancer is one of the most important causes of death worldwide. The National Cancer Institute reported nearly 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million to cancer -related deaths worldwide in 2022, with projections that showed an increase of 29.9 million new cases by 2040.

CraifSPONS from Nagoya University in Japan in 2018, uses Microrna (Mirna) to develop an AI-driven early cancer detection software, and it has collected $ 22 million in series C financing to further extend to the American market and to strengthen its R&D.

Ryuichi Onose, co-founder and CEO of Craif, told WAN in an interview that the company completed its series C-financing round with a rating of slightly less than $ 100 million.

X & KSKAn existing investor led the latest financing, which totally increased to $ 57 million so far, together with the investor -based investor, his first investment in a Japanese startup, Tauns Laboratories, Daiwa House Industry and Aozora Bank Group.

Craif’s journey began when Oray saw how deep cancer influenced his family, where both grandparents were diagnosed with the disease. These personal experiences have inspired a strong commitment to tackle the problem of cancer. Onose and Takao Yasui, assistant professor at Nagoya University, were founded just a month after they met. Yasui had created a new method for early detection of cancer using urinary biomarkers.

Early detection of a treatable condition can be a challenge because traditional diagnostic methods such as blood tests can be invasive, which means that some people regularly avoid screening, Onose said. In addition, limited access to medical facilities in certain areas makes it a challenge for people to easily obtain cancer tests, according to Onose.

Craif wants to tackle these gaps by offering a non-invasive test on urine that makes early detection of cancer possible, even at a very early stage, such as at stage 1.

“The test can be performed from the comfort of a patient’s home and is driven by advanced Microrna analysis, making early detection more accessible and effective,” Onose said. “Our users are health -conscious people who are concerned about cancer, but find it challenging to commit themselves to conventional screening because of time, costs and accessibility restrictions.”

Various startups create platforms for early detection of cancer in the industry, such as Gail, Freenome, Delfi Diagnostics And Clearnote Health.

Craif distinguishes itself by using Microrna as a biomarker instead of CFDNA (cell -free DNA) as most competitors and urine use.

“Mirna, which received increased recognition after he was linked to the 2024 Nobel PrizeIs known for its deep involvement in the biology of cancer, even in the earliest stages, “Onose said.” In contrast to CFDNA, Mirna is proactively excreted by early cancer cells, making it particularly suitable for early detection of cancer. “

Another unique aspect of his product is the use of urine. Onose said that urine is simple and non-invasive and offers many scientific and practical benefits. It has fewer impurities than other samples, making the biomarker signals clearer, he added. This helps to reduce any measurement errors, such as that of hemolysis in blood and saves money on tests.

Craif’s first product, Misignal, a test that detects the risk of seven different cancers (pancreas, colorectal, lung, stomach, esophagus, ovary) with the help of urine -Mirna, generates income in Japan. The products are distributed through clinics, pharmacies, sale of direct-to-consumer and business welfare programs, which offer a variety of sources of income that can be expanded, according to the CEO of the company.

“We work together with more than 1000 medical institutions and around 600 pharmacies in Japan, which serve around 20,000 users. Our team consists of 73 special employees,” Onose told WAN.

The turnover model offers both a few tests and subscription packages for regular tests, where many users opt for subscription plans. It booked $ 5 million in income in 2024 and wants to generate $ 15 million by the end of this year, Onose told WAN.

Craig plans to broaden the scope of Misignal with more than ten different types of cancers in the coming year. Moreover, the startup is ready to use its technology for the early detection of non-cancer-like diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.

Craif has its R&D Laboratory in Irvine, California and plans to open another office in San Diego to handle his business activities.

The new financing will help the startup to enter the American market with its Miscingal, aimed at completing tests in the US in 2026 end and will receive FDA approval in 2027.

It has already started collecting pancreatic cancer monsters in collaboration with 30 medical institutions in 15 American states.