CAMBRIDGE, Mass.– Predicta Biosciences, a precision oncology company developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic discovery solutions, today announced it has closed an oversubscribed $23.4 million Series A financing round led by Engine Ventures. Other investors include Illumina Ventures, Lightchain Capital, Mass General Brigham Ventures, ACS BrightEdge, Binney Street Capital of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Myeloma Solutions Fund.
The new funding will support the expansion of Predicta’s team and CLIA-approved laboratory infrastructure, and will accelerate commercialization of its first test, GenoPredicta, as well as the continued development of additional non-invasive diagnostics for blood cancers and autoimmune diseases. Alongside the financing, the company named Brian McKernan as Chief Executive Officer.
“It’s an honor to join Predicta and our strong team of leading oncologists, scientists and proven operators using leading-edge genomics to help patients on a diagnostic and therapeutic basis today,” said McKernan. “Predicta is already allowing clinicians to better understand and predict multiple myeloma patients’ conditions, and how they might respond to different treatment options. Ultimately, Predicta’s goal is to expand beyond diagnostics, and this funding will accelerate our path to bringing new precision therapeutics to market by leveraging our one-of-a-kind genomic and immune profiling data.”
McKernan is a three-time biotech founder and seasoned executive who most recently served as CEO of Fluent BioSciences, acquired by Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) in 2024. His previous ventures contributed to the Human Genome Project and global efforts to map gene mutation associations in neurological diseases. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Analytical Life Sciences and Diagnostic Association and holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.
“In the era of precision therapeutics, there is an urgent need for equally precise diagnostics in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers. While many patients are now receiving advanced immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies, clinicians often lack critical insights into the mutation or deletion status of key targets like BCMA or GPRC5D before initiating treatment. Having this knowledge upfront can be transformative—allowing physicians to identify patients unlikely to respond, avoid unnecessary toxicity, and ensure therapies are directed where they will have the greatest impact,” said Irene Ghobrial, M.D., co-founder of Predicta.
Predicta launched its first Laboratory Developed Test (LDT), GenoPredicta, in April. The test, which can be performed on either peripheral blood or bone marrow, enables physicians to molecularly diagnose multiple myeloma or assess risk and guide treatment decisions. The company is collaborating with providers and patient advocacy groups, including the HealthTree Foundation, to expand access and clinical adoption.
“Predicta stands out among early-stage biotech companies because of its immediate clinical impact and its enormous future potential,” said Ann DeWitt, General Partner at Engine Ventures and Predicta board member. “With Brian McKernan’s deep experience in commercializing scientific innovation—combined with the founding team’s world-class clinical, genomic, and analytical expertise—we’re entering a new phase of growth to meet the urgent unmet needs of patients living with blood cancers and autoimmune conditions.”
