Claritas Raises $15 Million in Funding

Claritas Genomics, the Massachusetts-based molecular lab that focuses on pediatric diagnostics, has received $15 million in second round funding to expand its operations. The capital infusion came from Boston Children’s Hospital, Cerner Corporation, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, all of which had contributed to Claritas’s initial funding. Claritas was spun off from Boston Children’s two years ago. Claritas launched its first proprietary tests last fall. They focus on diagnosing genetically-based neurological and kidney diseases in children. “Our work together has the potential to transform children’s healthcare, as 40 percent of pediatric disorders are understood to have a clear genetic basis today,” said Claritas CEO Patrice Milos. A new investor in this round is WuXi NextCODE Genomics. The company was formed as the result of the acquisition last month of NextCODE Genomics by Chinese company WuXi PharmaTech. NextCODE has operations in the United States and Iceland. “Claritas is positioned to play a central role in advancing the use of sequence-based testing to improve the diagnosis of rare diseases,” said Hannes Smarason, chief operating officer of WuXi NextCODE Genomics. “We are proud to contribute to that effort with our technology and as part of a group of industry-leading stakeholders.” Takeaway: Claritas […]