Business Wire

LUNAPHORE

6.2.2020 11:32:13 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Lunaphore Receives CHF 23M Series C Financing, Led by PHC Holdings Corporation

Lunaphore Technologies SA, a Swiss life-sciences company developing innovative next-generation equipment for cancer research and tissue diagnostics, announces the first closing of its Series C funding, amounting to CHF 23M. The round was led by the Japanese strategic investor PHC Holdings Corporation (hereafter, PHCHD), a global healthcare company that owns Epredia, a leading provider of comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200206005367/en/

The closing of the oversubscribed round was finalized on January 15, 2020. Existing investors including Redalpine Venture Partners, OCCIDENT and Alpana Ventures have also participated in this financing round.

“We are thrilled by the confidence placed in Lunaphore by our existing investors as well as the new ones in this financing round. The interest of global players in healthcare, like PHCHD demonstrates the relevance and added value of Lunaphore’s technology and confirms its high potential to transform the field of tissue analytics” said Ata Tuna Ciftlik, Lunaphore’s CEO, and added “We’re one step closer to fulfilling our vision of enabling highly sophisticated new-generation tissue analytics tests with our unique automation capabilities. The expertise and rapidly expanding network of the PHC Group and the specialist knowledge of the anatomical pathology field at Epredia will both help us gain scale and speed in this process”.

Lunaphore will invest the proceeds of Series C funding in market and product expansion. This includes a US market entry, the ramp up of activities in Europe and the development of next generation of instruments.

“We are delighted that PHCHD has invested in one of the most exciting players in tissue staining” said James Post, President of Epredia, a PHC Group portfolio company. “We believe that their technology has the potential to help revolutionize tissue analytics and greatly improve the workflow for pathologists and immuno-oncology researchers. We look forward to working together with Lunaphore to further develop their highly innovative solutions and bring them to market to help further enhance cancer research and diagnostics.” Mr. Post has joined Lunaphore’s Board of Directors as part of the transaction.

“This investment is a strong strategic fit for PHCHD, as we look to invest further in our diagnostics business,” explained Michael Kloss, President and CEO of PHCHD. “Lunaphore’s tissue staining products complement the portfolio we currently have in Epredia and we believe there is a strong opportunity for growth in their business.”

Epredia was created in June 2019 following the acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Anatomical Pathology business by PHC Holdings Corporation. Epredia’s portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables and they are committed to providing high quality products and services to enhance precision cancer diagnostics.

About Lunaphore
Lunaphore Technologies S.A. is a Swiss company developing next generation tissue autostainers. The award-winning technology based on microfluidics is called FFeX (Fast Fluidic Exchange). It aims to perform assays much faster than standard techniques and has demonstrated good results in tests with cancer patient samples. Lunaphore was founded in 2014 with the vision of bringing –omics like approaches to tissue analytics and has been recognized as one of the most innovative companies nationally and internationally. For further information on Lunaphore and its products, please visit www.lunaphore.com .

About PHC Holdings Corporation
Incorporated in 2014, PHC Holdings Corporation is a global healthcare company with its subsidiaries including PHC Corporation, Epredia, LSI Medience Corporation and Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG. Committed to its corporate mission, “We contribute to the wellbeing of society through our diligent efforts by creating new value propositions for all the people who wish for better health,” the company develops, manufactures, sells and services medical equipment and solutions across diabetes care, diagnostics, life sciences and healthcare services. PHC Holdings Corporation group’s consolidated net sales in FY2018 was 186.8 billion yen with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries. For further information on PHC Holdings Corporation, please visit www.phchd.com/global .  

About Epredia
Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics. Powered by key brands, including Erie, Menzel, Microm, Shandon, and Richard Allan, Epredia’s portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables. Established following the acquisition by PHC Holdings Corporation in 2019, Epredia has major sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and China with a total of around 1,200 employees. Epredia is committed to achieving its mission to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients around the world. For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit www.epredia.com .

Link:

ClickThru

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/lunaphore

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

euroAtlantic Airways Adds Second A330-300, Expanding Widebody Capacity28.10.2026 11:00:00 CET | Press release

euroAtlantic Airways (“EAA”), a Njord Partners portfolio company and a Portuguese ACMI and charter airline, has added a second Airbus A330-300 leased from Jackson Square Aviation (JSA), further expanding its widebody capacity. The second aircraft arrived in Portugal on 28 October 2026, bringing EAA’s total fleet size to eight. The first aircraft, CS-TGI, has already been inducted into EAA’s Air Operator Certificate and is operating commercial flights, including short-term ACMI and charter assignments. The second aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 which will carry the registration CS-TGJ, will now go through induction into EAA’s Air Operator Certificate, subject to the usual regulatory approvals. Both aircraft are leased from JSA and seat 290 passengers across three classes. The addition of the second aircraft strengthens EAA’s ability to serve a diversified range of customer requirements across global markets. In line with its long-term plans, EAA is well positioned for continued disciplined

Blue Matter Acquires Cognite, a Leading Healthcare Communications Agency28.10.2026 11:00:00 CET | Press release

Blue Matter, a world-class consulting firm serving the life sciences industry, today announced the acquisition of Cognite, a leading global healthcare communications agency that helps pharmaceutical and biotech companies bring science to life through an impressive range of scientific, medical, and commercial communications services. Cognite represents a significant step forward in strengthening Blue Matter’s growing range of communications capabilities. “Blue Matter is recognized as a valuable strategic resource and a thought leader when it comes to corporate, portfolio, product, and functional strategy in biopharma,” said Blue Matter CEO Ashwin Dandekar. “Over the past few years, we’ve been systematically bringing together the creative and communications capabilities that are often so crucial to bringing those strategies to life with healthcare providers, patients, payers, investors, and other stakeholders. Cognite’s array of capabilities, creativity, and team culture are a perfect fi

Financial Services Increases AI Investment Faster Than Wider Market, While Maturity Remains Level28.10.2026 09:56:00 CET | Press release

HTEC research finds 42% of financial services and insurance executives report significantly increased AI investment, compared with 28% across industries, while AI maturity remains in line with the wider market HTEC, the global AI technology and engineering leader, today released its research on AI Value realization in financial services and Insurance. Organizations in this sector are increasing AI investment more aggressively than the wider market, but the sector has yet to establish a corresponding lead in AI maturity, according to new research from HTEC. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028854882/en/ HTEC, the global AI technology and engineering leader, today released its research on AI Value realization in financial services and Insurance. Organizations in this sector are increasing AI investment more aggressively than the wider market, but the sector has yet to establish a corresponding lead in AI matur

Powens Launches Connector Agentic Factory, an AI System to Build and Fix Open Finance Connectors28.10.2026 09:00:00 CET | Press release

A new chapter in Powens' ambition: Connector Agentic Factory is Powens' new AI system to build, extend and repair Open Finance connectors, a key step toward becoming the most complete and reliable Open Finance infrastructure in EuropeAlready at work: 12 new connectors delivered across Europe, and repairs completed in minutes rather than daysNo control loss: every connector the AI proposes is still reviewed and approved by Powens engineers before it goes live Powens, a leading European Open Finance infrastructure provider, today announced the launch of its Connector Agentic Factory, an internal AI system that is capable of building new Open Finance connectors and repairing existing ones. Connectors are the technical links that let banks, fintechs, and financial apps securely retrieve a customer's financial data, or make payments, from a bank or other institution. Powens maintains more than 1,800 of them across Europe, and they underpin the services that banks, fintechs, lenders, wealth

Ant International CEO: Achieving Inclusion Is Critical to Re-Globalisation, and AI Will Accelerate It by Democratising Opportunities28.10.2026 07:24:00 CET | Press release

Speaking at the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum 2026 panel, “Investing in AI for an Inclusive Digital Future”, Ant International CEO Peng Yang called for a new, inclusive “re-globalisation” project that harnesses AI and digital connectivity to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) greater access to global markets and opportunities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261027567337/en/ Ant International CEO Peng Yang speaks at the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum 2026 “Globalisation 1.0 mostly benefited large enterprises, and a lot of SMEs very rarely got to participate in the global economy,” said Yang. “Achieving inclusion is critical to re-globalisation, and AI will accelerate it by democratising opportunities.” 1. The limitation of Globalisation 1.0 and how AI and other innovations offer a chance to improve Yang said one of the gre

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye