Base Genomics

The core of the company's offering was a proprietary technology named TAPS (TET-assisted pyridine borane sequencing). TAPS presented a significant improvement over the then-current gold standard, bisulfite sequencing, for analyzing DNA methylation—an epigenetic marker strongly associated with cancer. Unlike bisulfite sequencing, which severely degrades DNA, TAPS is a milder chemical reaction that preserves the integrity and complexity of the DNA sequence. This allows for the generation of more high-quality genetic and epigenetic data from a given sample, increasing sensitivity and cutting sequencing costs. The primary application was to develop a multi-cancer blood test for early-stage diagnosis and monitoring for minimal residual disease.

In June 2020, Base Genomics announced it had raised $11 million in a seed funding round led by Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI), with participation from other investors specializing in genomics and oncology. Just months later, in October 2020, the US-based cancer diagnostics company Exact Sciences acquired Base Genomics for $410 million. The acquisition was intended to accelerate the clinical and commercial development of the TAPS technology, with Exact Sciences planning to build a world-leading research center for early cancer detection in Oxford.