Vancouver based Sonic Incytes has completing a seed financing round of over $3.5 million.
Sonic Incytes is developing a breakthrough, point of care ultrasound solution for assessing and managing chronic liver disease – an emerging global health crisis, affecting one in four persons worldwide.
Investors include Small World Group, Think Top Investments and Sunhope Venture Capital, as well as angel investors World Changing Ventures, TMFOX, UBC Seed Fund and E-Fund. Notably, Genome BC invested $1 million in the round through its Industry Innovation (I²) program.
Fatty liver disease is the fastest growing and largest segment of chronic liver disease, driven largely by the increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. The continued growth in patients and emergence of potential new therapies creates an urgent need for a cost-effective, quick, and accurate diagnostic solution to assess and manage the progression and treatment of this disease.
“This financing will go a long way in helping us redefine the standard of care in quantifying fatty liver disease. Physicians will soon be able to accurately diagnose liver disease with a solution comparable to MRI,” said George Aliphtiras, CEO, Sonic Incytes Medical Corp.
“Access to a point of care diagnostic solution that replaces biopsy and MRI is an urgent unmet need for effective patient management, and we are ideally positioned to address this emerging health crisis.”
Currently definitive diagnostic tools for fatty liver disease are limited to biopsy and MRI, which are expensive, invasive and time-consuming.
Sonic Incyte’s portable, handheld solution uses technology similar to MRI elastography, quantifying liver disease using 3D tissue sampling. It is a point of care solution that provides consistently accurate results, and a clear picture of liver health in real time, so that physicians can be confident in their diagnosis, treatment and care.
In addition, the entire procedure takes about five minutes in a doctor’s office, contributing to a quick, safe and comfortable patient experience.
Founded in 2017, Sonic Incytes was recognized as a 2020 Ready to Rocket Life Science company for its innovative technology and potential for growth.