Afynia Laboratories, a Canadian biotech startup spun out from McMaster University, has secured $5 million in seed funding to commercialize its blood test for endometriosis. The round was led by Bio-Rad Laboratories, with participation from Impact America Fund, SOSV, the Capital Angel Network, and Gaingels.
The company is developing EndomiR, a blood test that analyzes microRNA—tiny molecules that influence gene expression—to diagnose endometriosis, a condition affecting nearly 200 million people worldwide that can cause chronic pelvic pain and fertility issues.
In an interview with TechCrunch, co-founder Dr. Lauren Foster explained their approach: “We recognized that we needed to go beyond just a single biomarker and look at a panel — a panel that would have more consistency and reliability to pick up endometriosis from different types and at different stages of the disease.”
The test examines biomarkers involved in various aspects of the disease, including inflammation, blood vessel growth, and nerve growth related to pain. “By targeting these different parts of the disease, they work better together in combination than any one does on its own,” Dr. Foster told TechCrunch.
Afynia plans to launch in Canada within the next three months, with U.S. expansion slated for early 2026. The company’s chief medical officer, Dr. Jake Prigoff, emphasized to TechCrunch the potential impact: “The average patient can wait seven to eight years for a diagnosis [of endometriosis], and some of them more than a decade. And so while we can’t quantify exactly how much of a reduction we’re going to be able to bring to these patients, we’re confident that we’re gonna be able to reduce that timeline substantially.”
Prior to this seed round, Afynia raised approximately $1.5 million in pre-seed funding. While currently focused on endometriosis, the company plans to develop additional microRNA tests for other women’s health conditions in the future.
