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ErlySign co-founders -Shubhendra Singh Thakur and Deovrat Begde
ErlySign, formally known as CURO Biosciences, has raised Rs 16 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by veteran investor Ashish Kacholia.
The investment, advised by boutique private equity and venture capital firm DerivativeSaint, is expected to accelerate the startup's efforts to bring its cutting-edge oral cancer detection kit to market.
Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Shubhendra Singh Thakur and Deovrat Begde, ErlySign began its journey in a lab in Nagpur and has since emerged as a beacon of innovation in the healthcare sector.
A rapid, noninvasive Test
At the heart of ErlySign’s innovation is a salivary biomarker-based kit that can detect oral precancerous conditions within 15 minutes, eliminating the need for painful and expensive procedures.
The test achieves 100% specificity and 98.04% sensitivity, making it a promising tool for early diagnosis. This solution is currently in the final stages of clinical trials across multiple HCG sites and has already earned an Indian patent in 2022, followed by a U.S. patent this year.
The startup aims to secure CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) approvals soon, paving the way for commercial rollout in India.
A growing market opportunity
ErlySign’s breakthrough comes at a time when the global diagnostics industry is projected to reach $250 billion by 2030. In India alone, the need for accessible, accurate, and affordable cancer tests is becoming increasingly urgent.
By offering a simple, non-invasive saliva test, ErlySign hopes to ease the burden on patients, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and transform how cancer is detected in its early stages.
Future plans and impact
Beyond its oral cancer detection kit, ErlySign plans to use CRISPR miRNA-based technology to test for multiple types of cancer from the same saliva sample within 15 to 20 minutes.
The new funding will support research and development, expand the team, and fuel further patent filings to broaden its global reach.
Renowned oncologist Vishal Rao has mentored the startup from its early days, adding clinical insight and credibility to ErlySign’s advancements.