This story has been updated to include additional information on the EpiPlex assay from the Alida spokesperson.
NEW YORK – Genomics startup Alida Biosciences said Wednesday that it has closed a $7.5 million Series A funding round.
The round was led by Genoa Ventures, with participation from FusionX Ventures and Vertical Venture Partners. It is complemented by the company’s two ongoing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, totaling $4 million, from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).
The company has also launched two early-access products, the EpiPlex RNA library prep kit and EpiScout analysis software, designed for the multiplexed epitranscriptomic analysis of input-limited RNA research samples.
Alida said the money raised "will facilitate faster and enhanced product development, as well as a focused effort to bring the EpiPlex kit into customers' hands."
Alida, based in San Diego, previously said its EpiPlex technology has the potential to detect and quantify 6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytidine (m5C), pseudouridine, and inosine modifications in long-coding or noncoding RNA molecules. A spokesperson from the company said the current EpiPlex kit under early access is a multiplexed kit for m6A and Inosine detection.
"We are excited to introduce the EpiPlex RNA library prep kit and the EpiScout analysis suite, and to accelerate our technology development in the multiplexed RNA modification detection space," Alida CEO Gudrun Stengel said in a statement. "The strong support from our investors reflects our shared enthusiasm in building research tools needed to uncover new insights into RNA biology and advance the field of epitranscriptomics."