Biotechnology startup CrisprBits has raised $250,000 in a pre-seed round led by US-based VJ Group. The proceeds will be deployed towards product development, team expansion, and research and development, CrisprBits said in a press release.
CrisprBits, founded in 2020 by Vijay Chandru, Sunil Arora, Dr. Rajeev Kohli, Bharat Jobanputra, and Aditya Sarda, develops high-quality healthcare solutions in diagnostics and gene editing that are affordable to all Indians. The company intends to expand its CRISPR-based diagnostics platform to detect pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with hospital-acquired infections at the point of care. CRISPR is used by bacteria to protect themselves from invading viruses, and scientists have recently harnessed its power to develop therapeutics as well as other biotechnological products in the domains of human, plant, and microbial bio-engineering.
The startup, based in Delhi and Bengaluru, claims to operate under three key principles: using deep science to deliver high-quality products, adhering to the highest ethical standards, including in product selection, and developing an organization that attracts exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds and affinities. It also claims to have a laboratory in C-CAMP, Bengaluru’s premier incubator for biotechnology innovation.
CrisprBits claims to have developed OmniCrisp, a CRISPR-based test for detecting SARS-CoV2 and determining whether it is an Omicron or non-Omicron variant. Its rivals include Biocon, Sea6 Energy, MedGenome, Bharat Biotech, GANIT Labs, and Forus Health.
