Nonprofit Will Enable Access to Proprietary SHERLOCK™ CRISPR-based Technology to Support Third-party Development of COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests

Proceeds to Support Racial and Gender Diversity in STEM

Cambridge, Mass., September 15, 2020 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced the formation of The 221b Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic by enabling access to intellectual property associated with the company’s SHERLOCK™ CRISPR-based technology. Proceeds from any company or third-party sales of SHERLOCK CRISPR COVID-19 products will support racial and gender diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math—disciplines collectively known as STEM.

The 221b Foundation’s initial leadership includes board members Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences, and Mark Jefferson, assistant dean for community engagement and equity at Harvard Law School.

“COVID-19 has undoubtably had a devastating impact on the world. At the same time, there are organizations such as Sherlock that have benefitted by rapidly responding to address the pandemic, which has accelerated our company’s innovation and overall plans,” said Dhanda. “The 221b Foundation is our way of giving back, furthering our commitment to racial and gender diversity – especially within the Black Community – in STEM, while also sharing our progress with other organizations that can join in the fight against this global pandemic.”

The Foundation’s first partner in this effort is Scratch, the programming language and online community designed for young people ages 8-16. Used in more than 150 countries and available in more than 40 languages, Scratch is committed to helping young people think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively. Scratch, which was originally developed at MIT, will dedicate this funding to programs that benefit the Black, Latinx and Native American communities, along with young women and girls.

“We are excited to partner with The 221b Foundation to advance our efforts to further equity in computer science education, particularly supporting young people from communities that face systemic inequities and injustice,” said Champika Fernando, acting executive director of Scratch. “Our commitment to equity and justice throughout all of our work, from the design of our creative coding tools and online community to our outreach programs that support schools and educators, aligns perfectly with The 221b Foundation’s mission. We look forward to working together to further our shared goal of ensuring representation and equity in STEM throughout the world.”

“COVID-19 and diversity issues are major crises of our time, both of which are ravaging institutions throughout the world,” said Jefferson. “I am excited to help The 221b Foundation lead a proactive effort to alleviate the social and healthcare burden through scientific development, educational support and community outreach.”

About SHERLOCK™

SHERLOCK is a method for single molecule detection of nucleic acid targets and stands for Specific High Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing. SHERLOCK utilizes CRISPR as a method for “smart amplicon detection” and can be adapted for use with existing diagnostic instruments, improving time to result due to the technology’s large multiplex capacity. When a specific sequence of DNA or RNA is present, the CRISPR enzyme is activated and, much like a pair of scissors, starts cutting nearby genetic material, releasing a fluorescent signal that indicates a positive result.

About The 221b Foundation

The 221b Foundation was founded with the dual mission to assist in the eradication of COVID-19, while supporting racial and gender diversity in STEM. By providing support and intellectual property that enables both non-profit and for-profit entities to develop CRISPR-based diagnostic testing, The 221b Foundation seeks to aid in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic while furthering access and diversity in STEM industries. Led by industry experts in the fields of diagnostic testing, STEM and diversity, The 221b Foundation envisions a world where advances in CRISPR technology fuel the innovations that will put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit: 221bfoundation.org.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to making molecular diagnostics better, faster and more affordable through Engineering Biology platforms. The company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method to detect and quantify specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR^TM, a Synthetic Biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests, and disease detection in the field. In May 2020, the company received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

Data Shows 100% Concordance with Real Patient Samples; Study Supports CRISPR-based Test Diagnostic Accuracy to Detect COVID-19

Cambridge, Mass., September 1, 2020 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today reported data from a 20 clinical sample pilot study conducted by Gregory J. Tsongalis, Ph.D., and his team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. The study evaluated the accuracy and performance of the Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit for the detection of nucleic acid from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Sherlock test results were 100 percent concordant with results from Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test method.

“We have been encouraged by results from the pilot study of Sherlock’s CRISPR-based test,” said Wahab Khan,  Ph.D., Assistant Director of the Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. “At a time when COVID-19 clinical diagnosis is in high demand – and often with limited resources – this approach highlights the value of mature, new technologies to provide valuable alternatives for the detection of not only COVID-19 but other emerging infectious diseases. We look forward to continuing our studies with CRISPR diagnostics with the goal of continually expanding our data set to characterize the value of this important molecular diagnostic approach.”

The Sherlock CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 test kit is designed for use in laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. §263a, to perform high complexity tests. The kit, for which Sherlock Biosciences recently received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is based on the SHERLOCK method, which stands for Specific High sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing. The Sherlock CRISPR collateral detection reaction identified SARS-CoV-2 across a range of viral loads with high accuracy in previously tested patient samples.

“Results from this pilot study have demonstrated – in real patient samples – that our CRISPR-based diagnostic test accurately reports the presence or absence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said William J. Blake, Chief Technology Officer at Sherlock Biosciences. “We are grateful for an independent assessment of our test by leading molecular diagnostic experts at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and look forward to announcing additional data from their ongoing study in the coming weeks.”

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to making molecular diagnostics better, faster and more affordable through Engineering Biology platforms. The company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method to detect and quantify specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR^TM, a Synthetic Biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests, and disease detection in the field. In May 2020, the company received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

About Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK HEALTH (D-HH), New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves a population of 1.9 million across Northern New England. D-HH provides access to more than 2,400 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. DHMC was named again in 2020 as the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in 9 clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health also includes the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, one of only 51 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation; the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the state’s only children’s hospital; affiliated member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, and New London, NH, and Windsor, VT, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and 24 Dartmouth-Hitchcock clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. The D-H system trains nearly 400 residents and fellows annually, and performs world-class research, in partnership with the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT.

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

Audra Burns, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

audra.m.burns@hitchcock.org

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Researchers Evaluating Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 Kit to Test Real-world Samples from Member Hospitals; Results Expected in Coming Weeks

Cambridge, Mass., August 12 2020 – Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced a research collaboration with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH) to launch a clinical study of the Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit for the detection of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The kit, for which Sherlock Biosciences recently received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be used to test clinical samples from patients from D-HH member hospitals.

“RT-PCR tests have been a mainstay in testing for the global COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of tests demanded by the pandemic, coupled with the dwindling supply of reagents and other consumables needed to conduct RT-PCR, has created a dire need for alternative testing methods,” said Gregory J. Tsongalis, Ph.D., Vice Chair for Research and Director of the Laboratory for Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at D-HH. “We are excited to partner with Sherlock to understand how the company’s novel CRISPR-based test may help circumvent some of the challenges with RT-PCR testing. We look forward to sharing preliminary results soon to assist those using or considering this novel technology to manage patients through the pandemic.”

The Sherlock CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 test kit is designed for use in laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), 42 U.S.C. §263a, to perform high complexity tests. Based on the SHERLOCK method, which stands for Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing, the kit works by programming a CRISPR nuclease to detect the presence of a specific genetic signature – in this case, the genetic signature for SARS-CoV-2 – in a nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, oropharyngeal swab or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimen. When the signature is found, the CRISPR enzyme is activated and cuts reporter RNAs provided as part of the kit to release a detectable signal, yielding results in about an hour. It is the first and only CRISPR-based diagnostic test to receive EUA from the FDA for qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2.

“Ultimately, the measure of success for any diagnostic is how it performs in the hands of real customers with real patient samples,” said William J. Blake, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Sherlock Biosciences. “Working with the exceptional team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock will demonstrate the impact that our CRISPR-based test will have on patients and the pandemic, while revealing opportunities for Sherlock to make additional contributions with our SHERLOCK and INSPECTR platforms.”

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to making molecular diagnostics better, faster and more affordable through Engineering Biology platforms. The company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method to detect and quantify specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR^TM, a Synthetic Biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests, and disease detection in the field. In May 2020, the company received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

About Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK HEALTH (D-HH), New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves a population of 1.9 million across Northern New England. D-HH provides access to more than 2,400 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. DHMC was named again in 2020 as the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized for high performance in 9 clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health also includes the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, one of only 51 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation; the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the state’s only children’s hospital; affiliated member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, and New London, NH, and Windsor, VT, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and 24 Dartmouth-Hitchcock clinics that provide ambulatory services across New Hampshire and Vermont. The D-H system trains nearly 400 residents and fellows annually, and performs world-class research, in partnership with the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT.

Contact

Katie Engleman, 1AB

katie@1abmedia.com

Audra Burns, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

audra.m.burns@hitchcock.org

binx health’s Proven Molecular io Platform Combined with SHERLOCK™ CRISPR Technology Will Enable Rapid, Accurate Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Retail and Near-patient Settings

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and BOSTON, July 1, 2020 – Sherlock Biosciences and binx health today announced the companies have entered into a strategic partnership to develop the world’s first rapid, point-of-care diagnostic test for COVID-19 leveraging CRISPR technology. The organizations will combine the binx io diagnostic platform with SHERLOCK™ CRISPR technology to create a test that is robust and simple to use. This unique solution is designed to provide rapid and accurate results in a single patient visit across many diverse CLIA-waived settings, such as clinics, doctors’ offices, assisted living centers, pharmacies and other easily accessible consumer venues, which will assist in broadening ways of managing potential resurgences of the pandemic. The combination of technologies also portends strong positioning for other viral threats as they emerge.

The binx io is the fastest molecular platform in the world that has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. The Company’s platform  is based on a proprietary detection method that makes it suitable for broad application across infectious diseases. The platform has a demonstrated ability to rapidly detect complex infectious disease targets from bodily fluids with very high accuracy. The binx io molecular platform consists of an easy-to-use, desktop-sized instrument and single-use cartridge with multiplex capacity of up to 24 targets. Once a patient sample is added to the cartridge and loaded into the io instrument, the process is fully automated, requires no interpretation of data, and is designed to produce a clearly indicated onscreen “detected” or “not detected” result.

“We are pleased to partner with Sherlock Biosciences to help bridge a gap in COVID-19 testing—the need for highly accurate point-of-care diagnostic testing in CLIA-waived and near-patient settings,” said Jeff Luber, chief executive officer of binx health. “In April of this year, binx health made history with the first 30-minute, FDA-cleared molecular diagnostic instrument for chlamydia and gonorrhea in both men and women that for the first time delivers same-visit diagnoses. Our proprietary platform will now leverage Sherlock’s CRISPR-based assay combined with binx’s electrochemical detection for rapid viral detection of SARS-CoV-2 without the need for additional instrumentation. This union of technologies is designed to enable physicians, clinicians and other healthcare workers on the front lines of the global COVID-19 pandemic to make on-the-spot care decisions and to control and prevent further infections. We also have a unique alignment of vision with Sherlock for solutions that support ‘everywhere’ testing in near-patient retail and clinical settings.”

“This collaboration with binx health to advance our SHERLOCK diagnostic platform and offer an accurate, point-of-care test is the next critical step in combating the global COVID-19 crisis,” said Rahul Dhanda, co-founder, president and CEO of Sherlock Biosciences. “We are also excited to explore with binx how to utilize the io platform to bring accurate and affordable testing to hospitals, urgent care centers and other healthcare facilities for a range of diagnostic tests beyond COVID-19. We agree with the binx strategy that ‘everywhere care’ depends on highly accurate in-clinic and easy-to-use at-home solutions. Through both our SHERLOCK- and INSPECTR™-based platforms, we hope to serve as part of the solution to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by making accurate, affordable diagnostics available everywhere they are needed: in the lab, point-of-care locales, low-resource settings and the home.”

The currently available Sherlock^TM CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit uses the SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing) method to program a CRISPR molecule to detect the presence of a specific SARS-CoV-2 genetic signature in specimens collected from patients suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider. The kit is intended for use in CLIA laboratories to assay nasal swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens. When the signature is found, the CRISPR enzyme is activated and releases a detectable signal, yielding results in about an hour. The kit is the first CRISPR-based diagnostic test to receive EUA from the FDA for qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2. Sherlock is also pressing forward in developing its INSPECTR at-home testing platform to create an instrument-free, handheld test – similar to that of an at-home pregnancy test – for the rapid detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

About Sherlock Biosciences

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to making molecular diagnostics better, faster and more affordable through Engineering Biology platforms. The company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method to detect and quantify specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR^TM, a Synthetic Biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests, and disease detection in the field. For more information visit Sherlock.bio. 

About binx health

binx health has the world’s fastest FDA-cleared molecular platform for CT/NG testing. The technology brings rapid, accurate and convenient infectious disease testing to people where they live, work and shop. Our solutions broaden access to care for millions and put proprietary testing solutions in the hands of clinicians everywhere, including in the ever-expanding footprint of retail health. binx has developed a suite of medical guideline driven, at-home testing solutions, including COVID-19 testing, to reach the many who are unwilling or unable to visit a physical location. In addition, the FDA cleared, binx io system is a highly flexible and easy-to-use, molecular point-of-care platform leveraging patented, multiplex technology to enable central lab equivalent clinical performance in decentralized, near patient locations such as retail pharmacy, urgent care, and the large and evolving category of consumer “super stores,” that are increasingly serving customer health needs. Our large partners seek to serve the testing needs of both in-store and at-home populations. We believe the future of healthcare lies at the nexus of testing convenience, rigorous science, and consumer relationships with a rapidly expanding retail health landscape.

Sherlock Media Contact:
Katie Engleman
1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

binx Media Contact:
Cassie Arnold
KMA & Company
408-621-0700
cassie@KMAandCo.com

• The World Economic Forum announced its selection of 100 of the most promising Technology Pioneers of 2020, which are shaping industries from agriculture to healthcare while also working on sustainability issues and much more.
• Many Technology Pioneers are also using their technology to support COVID-19 responses around the world.
• Sherlock Biosciences was selected for disrupting the field of diagnostics that deliver affordable, accurate and rapid results anywhere and everywhere to improve health worldwide, including in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• The full list of recognized Technology Pioneers can be viewed here.

 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 16, 2020 – Sherlock Biosciences today announced that it has been selected as a 2020 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Launched last year, Sherlock Biosciences is using Engineering Biology tools, including CRISPR and Synthetic Biology, to create a new generation of molecular diagnostics that can rapidly deliver accurate and affordable results for a vast range of needs in any setting. In May 2020, the company received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit  for the detection of the virus that causes COVID-19, providing results in approximately one hour. The EUA marks the first authorization of a CRISPR product in history.

The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early- to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development and deployment of new technologies and innovations, and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society. The Technology Pioneers community is an integral part of the larger Global Innovators community of start-ups at the World Economic Forum.

Following its selection as Technology Pioneer, Co-founder, President and CEO Rahul K. Dhanda of Sherlock Biosciences will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year. Sherlock Biosciences will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with policymakers and private sector leaders to help define the global agenda on key issues.

“We’re excited to welcome Sherlock Biosciences to our 20^th cohort of Technology Pioneers,” says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. “Sherlock and its fellow pioneers are developing cutting-edge technologies all over the world. Beyond their innovations, these firms are contributing greatly to improving the state of the world.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by the World Economic Forum as a company making a significant global impact through healthcare innovation,” said Mr. Dhanda. “While we only launched Sherlock about a year ago, we have already made history with the very first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology, which will assist physicians, laboratory experts and researchers leading the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting those on the front lines and are doing so in the immediacy by accelerating the development of Sherlock’s at-home COVID-19 test utilizing the INSPECTR platform. During these difficult times, we still maintain our focus and mission to overcome the limits of existing diagnostic platforms to improve social, economic and healthcare conditions, worldwide.”

This year’s cohort selection marks the 20^th anniversary of the Tech Pioneers community. Throughout its 20-year run, many Technology Pioneers have continuously contributed to advancement in their industries while some have even gone on to become household names. Past recipients include Airbnb, Google, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Palantir Technologies, Spotify, TransferWise, Twitter and Wikimedia.

2020 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more. The diversity of these companies extends to their leadership as well, as over 25% of 2020 Tech Pioneers are female led. The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. The full list of Technology Pioneers can be found here.

Technology Pioneers have been selected based on the community’s selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company’s relevance with the World Economic Forum’s Platforms.

All info on this year’s Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers20

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be found here.

About Sherlock Biosciences: Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to making molecular diagnostics better, faster and more affordable through Engineering Biology platforms. The company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method to detect and quantify specific genetic sequences, and INSPECTR™, a Synthetic Biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests, and disease detection in the field. In May 2020, the company received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Sherlock™ CRISPR SARS-CoV-2 kit, the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. For more information visit Sherlock.bio.

About World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

About the Global Innovators:

The Global Innovators Community is a group of the world’s most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency.

Companies who are invited to become Global Innovators will engage with one or more of the Forum’s Platforms, as relevant, to help define the global agenda on key issues.

Media Contact:
Katie Engleman
1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

Sherlock Innovation Lab to Stimulate New England Economy by Creating New Jobs for Industry and Academic Experts Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

Funding to Accelerate Development of INSPECTR™ Rapid Diagnostic Platform to Improve Testing in At-home and Low-resource Settings

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable, today announced that Open Philanthropy is advancing $7.5 million in grant funding to launch the Sherlock Innovation Lab and accelerate the development of Sherlock’s at-home COVID-19 diagnostic utilizing its INSPECTR™ platform. In 2019, Open Philanthropy awarded Sherlock a $17.5 million non-dilutive grant to develop its SHERLOCK™ platform for use at home, hospitals and in the field. As part of that grant, and with the onset of the global pandemic, this advance from Open Philanthropy will also support the development of INSPECTR to meet the need for increased testing capacity worldwide.