Stella Diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics-based organization focused on improving patient management strategies for over 67 million people living with severe esophageal disease.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Stella Diagnostics, Inc. operates as a molecular diagnostics company with a sharp focus on esophageal diseases, which affect a substantial population of over 60 million people in the United States. The company was established in 2020 and has its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was co-founded by Dr. Joe Abdo, who initially served as the CEO and later transitioned to the role of Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Abdo's background as a brain cancer survivor fuels his work in oncology. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Science from Creighton University School of Medicine and a Master's in Biotechnology from Georgetown University, with extensive research experience in molecular oncology and gastrointestinal diseases.
The company's core business revolves around developing diagnostic tools to improve patient management for conditions like Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal cancer. Stella Diagnostics provides molecular insights into a patient's tissue to help physicians determine if the disease is stable, progressing, or becoming cancerous. This is achieved through their proprietary mass spectrometry-based proteomic assays, which analyze protein expression patterns from a small biopsy slice. One of their key products is the BE-Smart test (also known as STLA101), a diagnostic screening tool designed for the early detection of precancerous and cancerous esophageal conditions. This test can potentially identify the risk of esophageal cancer 2.4 years earlier than current standard protocols. The business model appears to be centered on the commercialization of these diagnostic tests.
In a significant milestone, Stella Diagnostics' assets related to the BE-Smart test were acquired by ProPhase Labs, Inc. in January 2023 for approximately $4.6 million, with potential future milestone payments and royalties. This strategic transaction aimed to accelerate the commercialization of the BE-Smart test, which targets a multi-billion dollar market. Stella has also engaged in research collaborations with prominent institutions like the Mayo Clinic and Kansas University Medical Center to validate the clinical utility of its diagnostic assays. The company has received funding from investors, including a foundational seed investment from Keystone Capital Partners in September 2020.
Keywords: molecular diagnostics, esophageal disease, esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, diagnostic assays, proteomics, mass spectrometry, early cancer detection, BE-Smart test, STLA101, gastroenterology, oncology, Joe Abdo, ProPhase Labs, Mayo Clinic collaboration, clinical diagnostics, gastrointestinal diseases, personalized medicine, liquid biopsy, biomarker discovery