CURO Biosciences, ErlySign, has raised Rs. 16 crore in Pre-Series A funding from prominent investor Ashish Kacholia. The investment, facilitated by Derivative Saint, a private equity and venture capital advisory firm, marks a significant milestone for the company as it aims to disrupt the global diagnostics market, projected to reach $250 billion by 2030.

ErlySign’s core innovation is a biomarker-based test kit that detects oral precancerous conditions within 15 minutes using a simple, non-invasive saliva sample. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, which are often invasive, costly, and time-consuming.

Founded by Shubhendra Singh Thakur and Deovrat Begde, CURO Biosciences has been guided by the expertise of oncologist Vishal Rao. The company secured an Indian patent in 2022, followed by a U.S. patent in 2023, highlighting its leadership in cancer diagnostics.

Commenting on the progress, CEO and Founder Shubhendra Singh Thakur shared that those early studies demonstrated remarkable accuracy, achieving 100% specificity and 98.04% sensitivity. The product is now in the final phase of clinical trials at multiple HCG centers and promises to transform cancer detection. In addition to early diagnosis, it will serve as a key screening tool to reduce unnecessary biopsies and invasive procedures.

The new funding will help finalize clinical trials, obtain CDSCO approvals, and launch ErlySign’s oral cancer detection kit. It will also support R&D, team growth, and additional patent filings.

Looking ahead, ErlySign plans to leverage CRISPR miRNA-based technology to develop tests that can detect multiple cancers using a single saliva sample within 15-20 minutes, revolutionizing cancer diagnostics with faster, more accessible early detection solutions.