Afynia Laboratories, a Canada-based startup led by former McMaster University researchers, has raised $1.5 million USD to advance the commercialization of their innovative endometriosis test, EndomiR. Co-founders Lauren Foster and Jocelyn Wessels aim to significantly improve the diagnostic process for endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women globally.
Afynia Laboratories, under the leadership of CEO Lauren Foster and Chief Scientific Officer Jocelyn Wessels, is tackling a critical issue in women’s health: the prolonged and invasive process of diagnosing endometriosis. Current diagnostic methods often take up to seven years from symptom onset, a delay Foster deems completely unacceptable. Foster and Wessels, both seasoned experts in women’s health, have developed a microRNA-based molecular screening test known as EndomiR. This test is already in use at several Canadian fertility clinics as part of a pilot launch.
In early 2024, Afynia closed a $1.5 million USD pre-seed funding round to propel EndomiR’s development and market introduction. This round included investments from Capital Angel Network (CAN), SOSV, Gaingels, Aventura, and McMaster University’s Seed Fund. This marks Afynia’s first round of external funding, supplementing the $750,000 USD in non-dilutive funding previously secured. The startup is now preparing for a larger seed round of $2.2 million to $3.7 million USD to further commercialize EndomiR.
Endometriosis, a debilitating disease where uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus, affects about 10% of women of reproductive age. Current diagnostic tools are often invasive and expensive, typically involving imaging techniques like ultrasounds and MRIs, or surgical procedures like laparoscopy. EndomiR aims to provide a non-invasive, accurate, and cost-effective alternative. The test involves collecting a blood sample, which is analyzed using a proprietary panel of miRNA markers. This data is then processed through Afynia’s algorithm to produce an EndomiR score, categorizing patients’ risk levels from very low to very high.
Afynia’s research is grounded in a 2020 study that demonstrated the effectiveness of miRNA markers in diagnosing endometriosis. The company has validated their results through collaborative studies, including a recent partnership with a US-based group to ensure reproducibility. Afynia is also participating in a Canadian Institutes of Health Research study involving 1,000 patients, further validating EndomiR’s clinical accuracy. The startup plans to operate EndomiR as a laboratory-developed test in a CLIA-certified lab, aligning with US clinical standards and recognized by Health Canada.
Afynia’s founders bring a wealth of expertise to the table. Foster, a former professor at McMaster University, and Wessels, a reproductive physiology expert, have numerous publications and patents to their names. The company is also bolstering its business acumen with strategic hires, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jake Prigoff. Beyond EndomiR, Afynia aims to expand its portfolio of women’s health diagnostics. “We hold other patents for other diagnostic tools that we will begin to roll out once we’ve conquered the Canadian market for EndomiR and we’re on [the] market in the US,” said Foster.
