On March 16, 2023, Droplet Biosciences announced an $8 million seed investment to establish proof of concept for the company’s lymph diagnostic platform to help prevent cancer recurrence. The financing was led by The Engine, the venture firm spun out of MIT that invests in early-stage Tough Tech companies. With the investment, Droplet will develop a novel lymph liquid biopsy for earlier, more precise care following surgery. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Droplet on its launch.

While the lymphatic system’s critical role in metastasis has long been recognized, routine access to patient lymph has been elusive. Droplet’s foundational breakthrough is a non-invasive process to access lymph through the collection of surgical drain fluid after tumor resection. Rich in T-cells, proteins, and other biomarkers, this lymphatic fluid can offer insights into the body’s immune response to cancer earlier and with greater sensitivity than blood.

Droplet was founded in 2021 by CEO Theresa Tribble and Stan Lapidus, along with scientific co-founders Jose P. Zevallos, M.D., M.P.H; Eugene N. Myers, M.D., Chair of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC; and Aadel Chaudhuri, M.D., Ph.D., a leading liquid biopsy researcher and assistant professor of cancer biology, radiation oncology, genetics, computer science, and biomedical engineering at the Washington University in St. Louis. With backgrounds in diagnostics, surgery, oncology, and genomics, the founding team is combining its hands-on patient experience with breakthrough science to unlock the potential of an enriched biofluid.

The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Droplet on its launch includes:

Corporate
Mark Solakian
Rich Evans
Andrew Thompson
Rebecca Fliegel

Technology Transactions
Zackory Burns

For more information, please see Droplet’s press release.