Spatial AI biomarker startup Nucleai raises $14 million led by Merck’s VC arm
Leveraging AI and machine learning, Nucleai analyzes pathology images and spatial data at the cellular and tissue levels. The proprietary technology extracts detailed patterns and features from medical images, offering insights into the tumor microenvironment, cellular morphology, and spatial relationships between different cell types
Nucleai, a spatial AI biomarker company that deciphers cellular conversations and maps cellular interactions within tissue samples to predict therapeutic outcomes, announced on Wednesday that it has secured a $14 million investment. The round was led by M Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and supported by existing investors, bringing the total funding to $60 million. Existing investors include Section 32, a VC fund in the medical world established by the former CEO of Google Ventures, Bill Maris, Sanofi Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Sanofi, Debiopharm, Fosun RZ Capital, Vertex Ventures Israel, and Grove Ventures.
Full list of Israeli high-tech funding rounds in 2024
The Israeli startup plans to use the funding to further deploy its AI algorithms for the prospective enrollment of patients in clinical trials – a first in the field and a significant advancement in personalized solutions tailored to the distinct needs of patients.
Nucleai was established in 2018 and is led by Avi Veidman, Eliron Amir, Lotan Chorev and Albert Achtenberg, who set up and managed the AI computer vision department in the Israeli military’s Intelligence Corps.
Nucleai’s spatial analysis technology provides pathologists with the intelligence to anticipate and navigate complex diseases, like cancer. According to the company, Nucleai has collaborations with over 60% of the top 20 biopharma companies.
Leveraging AI and machine learning (ML), Nucleai analyzes pathology images and spatial data at the cellular and tissue levels. The proprietary technology extracts detailed patterns and features from medical images, offering insights into the tumor microenvironment, cellular morphology, and spatial relationships between different cell types. These capabilities advance drug development, refine biomarker discovery, and improve the precision of therapeutic targeting, ultimately leading to more effective and personalized treatment options for patients.
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“M Ventures' investment boosts our ability to scale and deploy our spatial AI technology for patient enrollment in clinical trials and supports our work in the rapidly emerging areas of immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bi-specifics,” said Avi Veidman, CEO and Co-Founder of Nucleai. “Our vision is that every next-generation therapeutic is accompanied with an AI-enabled companion diagnostic, ensuring that each patient's treatment pathway is informed and efficacious. This funding positions us to scale spatial AI, not just to intercept but anticipate the complex behavior of diseases.”
