Devices & Diagnostics, Diagnostics, Startups

Stanford spinoff goes data-mining for a better diagnostic for preeclampsia

Fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey were shocked when the character Lady Sybil died […]

Fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey were shocked when the character Lady Sybil died from eclampsia after giving birth last season. Sadly, the same condition still kills expectant and new mothers today, nearly 100 years later.

Carmenta Bisocience was spun out of Stanford University last year to commercialize a better way for obstetricians to predict and diagnose the precursor to the condition, preeclampsia.

Characterized by high blood pressure and high protein in the mother’s urine during pregnancy or immediately after, preeclampsia can lead to rare but serious complications like stroke, organ failure and death if left unaddressed. It’s also a cause for preterm birth, since the “cure” is delivery of the baby.

Carmenta’s test combines computational algorithms with novel protein biomarkers in serum to identify at-risk pregnant mothers. It’s described this way in a February announcement from the company:

The underlying technology for the test was discovered by Carmenta’s co-founders, Dr. Atul Butte and Dr. Bruce Ling of Stanford University. Dr. Butte and Dr. Ling analyzed genomic and proteomic data from over 100 preeclamptic mothers to develop a novel, proprietary panel of serum proteins capable of diagnosis. Using advanced data mining techniques, they identified a multiplexed panel of biomarkers representing the broad diversity of biological processes associated with the condition.

Carmenta disclosed in a SEC filing last week that it was raising $1.9 million but said in an announcement this week it had oversubscribed the round, bringing in more than $2 million. Investors include Life Science Angels, members of the company’s management team and other individual investors. Camille Samuels from Versant Ventures is also joining the board.

Funding will support continued development and commercialization of the test. In an initial trial funded by the March of Dimes and the SPARK program at Stanford School of Medicine, the company said the test demonstrated “extremely high sensitivity and specificity.” Currently, preeclampsia is detected though routine blood, urine tests and blood pressure tests.

[Image credit: Downton Abbey Wiki]

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