Molecular Biometrics

About Molecular Biometrics

Molecular Biometrics, Inc. operated as a metabolomics company focused on developing non-invasive clinical diagnostic tools for personalized medicine. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with R&D facilities in Connecticut and Quebec, the company aimed to address unmet needs in reproductive health and neurodegenerative diseases. The firm was incorporated in the spring of 2005, building on five broad patents licensed from McGill University related to metabolomics and biospectroscopy.

The company's core technology was a proprietary near-infrared (NIR) biospectroscopy platform. This system was designed to measure the molecular signatures of small molecules involved in cellular metabolism, creating a "metabolomic profile" or fingerprint. This profile could then be analyzed to assess cellular function and viability, with applications in drug discovery and development. The business model centered on the development and commercialization of these diagnostic tools to clinical markets. Its initial target market was the global in vitro fertilization (IVF) sector, estimated at $4 billion. The primary client base consisted of IVF clinics and reproductive health specialists.

The flagship product was ViaMetrics-E™, a non-invasive test designed to improve IVF outcomes by identifying the most viable embryos for implantation. By analyzing the metabolic profile of the embryo's culture medium, the test aimed to increase pregnancy rates and reduce the need for transferring multiple embryos, thereby lowering associated healthcare costs and complications. Beyond reproductive health, the company validated its platform for potential diagnostics in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

The company was led by President and CEO James T. Posillico, PhD, a reproductive endocrinologist with over two decades of experience in the field. His background included a PhD in endocrinology from Duke University Medical Center, post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School, and senior roles at organizations like Cooper Surgical and Ares-Serono. The company secured a Series B financing round of $12.8 million in November 2008, led by Atlas Venture with participation from Oxford Bioscience Partners and Safeguard Scientifics, to fund the global launch of ViaMetrics-E™ and complete FDA clinical studies. Molecular Biometrics ceased operations in September 2012.