BIOCAPTIVA raises £1.6m seed to commercialise magnetic beads for liquid biopsy prep
This article covers BIOCAPTIVA, a University of Edinburgh spin-out biotech startup, which has raised £1.6m in a seed funding round to commercialise a magnetic bead platform that prepares blood samples for liquid biopsy. The funding will support R&D, expand the startup’s product range and build comparative evidence for a sample-preparation platform intended to improve cell-free DNA extraction for researchers and diagnostic developers.
BIOCAPTIVA, a University of Edinburgh spin-out biotech startup, has raised £1.6 million in a seed funding round to commercialise a magnetic bead platform that prepares blood samples for liquid biopsy. The funding will support R&D, expand the company’s product range and evidence building after the firm launched its first research-use kits in the US.
Why it matters
Liquid biopsy — the analysis of cell-free DNA in blood — is a growing non-invasive route for cancer research and diagnostics, but sample preparation remains a bottleneck. Better methods for extracting and preserving cell-free DNA can improve the reliability and throughput of tests, which matters for both academic research and companies developing diagnostic assays.
BIOCAPTIVA’s approach targets that upstream problem: if sample capture and processing are simpler and faster, downstream sequencing and analysis become more consistent, potentially accelerating research timelines and clinical validation of new tests.
Inside the product
BIOCAPTIVA’s patented msX platform uses magnetic beads intended to capture cell-free DNA directly from whole blood, eliminating the need for centrifugation and additional reagents during extraction. The company says this produces higher-quality samples with faster, simpler workflows and creates scope for automation.
The firm launched its msX kits for research use in Boston earlier this month to begin building comparative data across applications, from basic research to translational oncology projects. To strengthen technical leadership, BIOCAPTIVA appointed Alan Schafer as chief technology officer. Schafer brings more than 30 years’ experience in genetics technologies and molecular diagnostics, including roles as CTO at Inivata, CEO at Population Genetics Technologies and 14M Genomics, and former VP Technology Development (Global) at GlaxoSmithKline.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by Archangels, with participation from Old College Capital, BBI, Scottish Enterprise and EverQuest Capital Partners. The company says the money will be channelled into product development, evidence generation and scaling R&D capability.
In the announcement, Sarah Hardy, Investor at Archangels, said:
BIOCAPTIVA is at an inflection point in its growth trajectory with the launch of its new msX beads. The market potential for the technology is remarkable, and with the products, the senior leadership and the research and development capability within the business, we’re confident about the future success of the BIOCAPTIVA.
In the announcement, Derek Shaw, Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment at Scottish Enterprise, said:
Our investment in BIOCAPTIVA highlights our commitment to helping increase the scale of capital investment by businesses in Scotland to support our economy, drive productivity and create higher-value jobs. Company growth and productivity can lead to optimised operations, expanded export capabilities and move jobs up the value chain.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Jeremy Wheeler, CEO at BIOCAPTIVA, said:
Oncology is an exciting and vibrant sector. The scientists and technologists have been doing incredible things based upon the samples that they’re given, but there hasn’t been any particular movement in how the samples are prepared for years. Our msX platform has the potential to revolutionise how samples are collected, allowing for larger samples, faster extraction, simpler processing, and fully automatable capabilities. In practice, that means faster, better and deeper iteration and research on cancer, leading to better outcomes for potentially millions of people globally. This new funding brings us closer to achieving that goal.
Wheeler’s comment frames the company’s mission around improving upstream lab workflows rather than competing directly with downstream sequencing or analytics companies.
The bigger picture
BIOCAPTIVA’s raise is another example of early-stage funding flowing into UK biotech tools that support diagnostics and research infrastructure, especially from local public and private backers. The University of Edinburgh spin-out model and involvement from Scottish Enterprise underline regional efforts to convert academic IP into commercial products.
The company’s US research-use launch signals an ambition to gather comparative data and engage with international research centres — a common route for UK diagnostic tool companies seeking validation and commercial partners. The deal also reflects ongoing interest from biotech investors in technologies that make liquid biopsy workflows more robust and scalable.
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