Cancer detection startup MetaSight acquired by Guardant Health for up to $150 million
Israeli liquid biopsy startup to become US company’s first R&D center outside America.
Israeli startup MetaSight is being acquired by U.S. diagnostics company Guardant Health in a deal valued at up to $150 million. The transaction includes an upfront payment of $59 million, with additional milestone-based payments that could bring the total consideration to as much as $150 million.
MetaSight develops blood tests for the early detection of cancer and other diseases using liquid biopsy technology.
The company was founded by Prof. Tomer Shlomi of the Technion in partnership with the aMoon fund as part of its Velocity program for launching new startups. Dr. Yaron Daniely, former CEO of Yissum, the Hebrew University’s technology transfer company, is a senior partner at aMoon, serves as MetaSight’s chairman, and has been closely involved with the company.
MetaSight has raised approximately $20 million across two funding rounds to date, including $8 million in its most recent round, which included participation from US-based ARC Fund. The company also previously received a $1 million grant from the Israel Innovation Authority.
MetaSight employs 20 people at its offices in Rehovot.
Guardant Health, which is publicly traded on Nasdaq with a market capitalization of approximately $14 billion, plans to turn MetaSight’s Rehovot site into its first development center outside the United States.
