Enlife Secures Rs 6 Crore for AI-Driven Alzheimer's Blood Test
Bengaluru's Enlife raises Rs 6 crore to develop an AI-based blood test for early Alzheimer's detection, targeting affordability for the Indian market.
Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Enlife Research has successfully secured Rs 6 crore in funding to develop an artificial intelligence-powered blood test aimed at early detection of Alzheimer's disease. This funding round was led by Piper Serica, a firm known for investing in deep-science companies addressing major healthcare challenges.
Innovative Approach to Alzheimer's Detection
Enlife's pioneering effort seeks to replace the traditional, costly, and invasive diagnostic methods such as PET and MRI scans with a simple, affordable blood test. The startup's AI platform is designed to detect Alzheimer's up to 15 years before symptoms manifest. This approach could significantly alter the landscape of Alzheimer's diagnostics, particularly in India, where current models are often cost-prohibitive.
Founded by Dr. Deepak Kumaran Nair from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), along with Lt Col Jojo Jacob and Anish Mathew, former CEO of CAMS Finserv, Enlife is focused on creating a diagnostic tool that caters specifically to the Indian demographic. Dr. Nair highlighted the gap in early diagnosis, stating, "The biggest failure of Alzheimer's care today isn't the absence of treatments in trials; it's that we find patients a decade too late to use them."
Expanding Research and Development
The newly acquired funds will be utilized to validate Enlife's blood-based biomarker platform, enhance their research and development team, and transition their diagnostic assay from prototype to clinical-grade validation. The company is currently operating between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and 4, having already demonstrated proof of concept.
Enlife's test currently analyzes five to seven biomarkers, including amyloid beta and tau proteins, which are known indicators of Alzheimer's. The company plans to expand this panel to include 25 to 100 biomarkers, enabling their AI to identify complex biological patterns associated with various neurodegenerative diseases.
Strategic Collaborations and Market Deployment
To build a comprehensive biomarker dataset tailored for India, Enlife is collaborating with prestigious institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) in Bengaluru. The startup aims to file patents within the next nine to 18 months for biomarker binders, diagnostic assays, and its detection platform.
Enlife's business model is B2B, intending to partner with hospital chains, diagnostic labs, and pharmaceutical companies. These partnerships will facilitate the deployment of the tests and allow pharmaceutical companies to utilize the data for clinical research and drug development.
Rajni Agarwal, director at Piper Serica, expressed optimism about the investment, noting that "India will have one of the world's largest ageing populations within a generation, and neurodegenerative disease is the burden we are least prepared for." She emphasized that Enlife's technology has the potential to provide affordable early detection solutions across India, including in tier 2 and 3 cities.
Beyond Alzheimer's, Enlife's broader mission is to develop diagnostic tools for various forms of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, offering earlier intervention opportunities and enabling patients and families to plan for treatment and long-term care effectively.