Existing investors include Invigo Softwares and Prof Mohamed Rela, a liver transplant surgeon. The fresh investment will accelerate expansion and commercialisation of Episcreen Liver, a methylation-based liquid biopsy test for early liver cancer detection.
Co-founded in 2021 by Dr Srikar Raman and K Sreedurgalakshmi, Tvaster is into molecular diagnostics and precision oncology through epigenetic screening technologies.
“The funding will accelerate nationwide deployment of Episcreen Liver, offering a non-invasive, highly accurate diagnostic alternative for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer,” said Raman, adding that while Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), the current standard for HCC screening, has 50% sensitivity, Episcreen Liver achieves 90% sensitivity thus significantly improving early detection and increasing survival chances by over 70%.
To achieve this, Tvaster is partnering with leading diagnostic companies.
Liver cancer is a rapidly growing global health concern, with over 900,000 new cases annually. In India, one in five adults suffer from Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) due to Fatty Liver Disease, Hepatitis B and C, Alcohol-related CLD, and other metabolic disorders. However the current diagnostics remain inadequate, reinforcing the need for high-accuracy, non-invasive alternatives.
Discover the stories of your interest
Tvaster is also advancing its oncology diagnostics pipeline with Episcreen Bile, a test for Cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive bile duct cancer with limited early detection options. Additionally, the company has developed first-ever chemotherapy resistance test for pediatric hepatoblastoma, addressing a critical gap in childhood cancer treatment.“We see immense potential in Tvaster’s approach, not just for initial diagnosis but also for monitoring recurrence in patients undergoing treatment. Their liquid biopsy test, Episcreen Liver, has been developed and validated using over 600 patient samples, achieving 90% sensitivity and specificity for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early detection can significantly improve the survival rates and ensure patients receive curative treatment early on. Ideaspring is very excited to partner with Srikar and Durga scale Tvaster.” Naganand Doraiswany, MD at
Ideaspring Capital said.
