NanoMR

About NanoMR

NanoMR, Inc. operated as a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic systems for the rapid isolation of rare cells. Founded in 2007 by researchers from the University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque-based firm engineered a technology to address critical needs in the medical diagnostics market, particularly in the rapid detection of bloodstream infections that can lead to sepsis.

The company's core product was the Pathogen Capture System (PCS). This system utilized an immunomagnetic process to capture and isolate targeted pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi, directly from complex biological samples like whole blood. The key benefit of the PCS was its speed and sensitivity; it could isolate rare cells at concentrations as low as one cell per milliliter in under 30 minutes. This represented a significant time saving compared to traditional blood culture methods, which can take 48 hours or more to yield results. By providing viable cells for phenotypic analysis or extracted DNA for molecular testing, the technology was designed to integrate with various downstream analytical platforms, including PCR and DNA sequencing.

NanoMR's business model centered on the development and eventual commercialization of this sample preparation technology to clinical laboratories and hospitals. The primary clinical application was to enable faster diagnosis of bloodstream infections, allowing clinicians to administer the correct targeted antibiotic therapy within hours instead of days. This capability held the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital stays, and combat antibiotic resistance.

On January 15, 2015, NanoMR was acquired by the UK-based DNA Electronics Ltd (DNAe) for approximately $24 million. The acquisition was a strategic move for DNAe to vertically integrate NanoMR's sample preparation front-end with its own semiconductor-based DNA sequencing and PCR technologies. The goal of the combined entity, which continued under the DNAe brand, was to create a complete, point-of-need, blood-to-result diagnostic system capable of identifying pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance genes in 2-3 hours. Prior to the acquisition, NanoMR had raised capital from investors including Dow Venture Capital, Excel Venture Management, and HealthCare Ventures.