Local startup develops non-biomarker based system of detecting cancer cells

It just raised $9M to develop the technology further.

Clearbridge BioMedics is a spin-off company from the National University of Singapore. According to co-founder Johson Chen, the company’s proprietary ClearCell System is one of the first non-biomarker based systems that is commercially available to effectively detect, isolate and retrieve circulating circulating tumour cells (CTCs).

These CTCs are cancer cells that slough off from a physical cancer tumour and are circulating in the blood stream. Researchers wish to identify and obtain these CTCs, as they may be used in cancer research.

The ClearCell System was launched in 2012 to the research market following the company’s announcement that Clearbridge BioMedics has achieved ISO13485 certification for the development of cell-based in-vitro diagnostic devices.

“Most of the other systems available for identifying CTCs use biomarkers that tag themselves to the cancer cells. This is ideal for research purposes, as the CTCs can be retrieved in their native state,” said Chen.

Clearbridge recently raised $9 million in March 2013, and the funds will be used to develop the next generation ClearCell System, with clinical applications including cancer screening/ diagnosis, cancer staging, supporting cancer treatment decisions, personalised cancer treatment and post cancer monitoring. .

“Currently the ClearCell System is only available for research markets. However, once the next generation system has been developed, Clearbridge BioMedics will be targeting to use this for a range of clinical applications, including cancer screening/ diagnosis, cancer staging, supporting cancer treatment decisions, personalised cancer treatment and post cancer monitoring.”

How did the company started?

The underlying technology for Clearbridge BioMedics began its life in a laboratory at the National University of Singapore, headed by Prof Lim Chwee Teck.

A spokesperson said that when Johnson Chen, who was a University friend of Prof Lim, heard about the technology, he saw the potential of developing this into a commercial device.

Johnson teamed up with Prof Lim, and a few other founders, to set up the company.

According to Chen, the first round of funds for the company came from Clearbridge Accelerator and the National Research Foundation of Singapore, under its Technology Incubation Scheme. The other investors were found through the management team's extensive networks and contacts.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name of the company: Clearbridge BioMedics

Founder/Founders: Johnson Chen, Chong Chee Wah, Tan Swee Jin and Lim Chwee Teck

Website: https://www.clearbridgebiomedics.com

Major Investors: Clearbridge Accelerator, Vertex Venture Holdings, SPRING Seeds Capital,
Clearbridge BSA, BioVeda Capital

Total funding at hand: Undisclosed for Series A, S$ 9 million for Series B

Target fund: Undisclosed

Source of funding: Clearbridge Accelerator, BioVeda Capital, Vertex Venture Holdings Ltd,
SPRING Seeds Capital, Clearbridge BSA Pte Ltd, Mr Lu Yoh Chie.

Start of operation: 2010