DNA sequencing test maker Helix raised $50M series C. The $50 million series C was co-led by Warburg Pincus, DFJ Growth, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Mayo Clinic and Temasek, all of which have previously invested in Helix.

The Helix Laboratory Platform became in January the first whole exome sequencing platform to receive De Novo authorization from the FDA. It centers on Helix’s Exome+ assay, which uses a saliva sample to analyze approximately 20,000 genes. The platform uses the analysis to build a genomic profile that is securely stored for future testing, eliminating the need for repeated sample collection.

Along with the platform’s authorization, the FDA also granted Helix 510(k) clearance for use of its Genetic Health Risk App to measure a person’s risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease based on their genetic results.

The latest round of funding will help Helix develop even more Genetic Health Risk App tests that use the Helix Laboratory Platform’s analyses. Those could include tests for cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as carrier screening, James Lu, Helix’s co-founder and CEO, said in a statement.

As Helix continues to expand its sequencing offerings, those test results and the stored genomic profiles can be accessed on an as-needed basis by health systems and life sciences companies to support their research and development work.

Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/dna-sequencing-test-maker-helix-doubles-down-covid-19-testing-tracking-50m-series-c