Exosome Diagnostics

About

Exosome Diagnostics, founded in 2008 in Waltham, Massachusetts, emerged as a global leader in exosome-based liquid biopsy technology before being acquired by Bio-Techne Corporation. The company pioneered the use of exosomes—nanoscale extracellular vesicles (30-150 nm) naturally released by cells—as biomarkers for non-invasive disease detection and monitoring. Exosomes contain genetic material, proteins, and other molecular cargo that reflect the state of their cell of origin, making them valuable diagnostic tools for cancer and other diseases. Exosome Diagnostics developed sophisticated isolation and analysis technologies to capture these nanovesicles from bodily fluids and extract clinically relevant biomarkers, particularly RNA and DNA molecules. The company's flagship product, the ExoDx Prostate Test (IntelliScore), represents a breakthrough in prostate cancer detection, analyzing exosomal RNA from urine samples to help determine the need for prostate biopsy, thereby reducing unnecessary invasive procedures. This non-invasive approach leverages the natural biology of exosomes, which are shed into circulation and easily accessible through liquid biopsies. Exosome Diagnostics also developed comprehensive exosome isolation kits enabling researchers and clinicians to harness these nanosized vesicles for biomarker discovery and diagnostic applications. The company raised over $100 million in funding and established strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions. The acquisition by Bio-Techne expanded the reach of exosome diagnostics technology within a larger life sciences organization. Exosome-based diagnostics represent a paradigm shift from traditional tissue biopsies to liquid biopsies, offering less invasive, repeatable testing that can track disease progression and treatment response. As precision medicine advances, exosome diagnostics continues to play a crucial role in enabling earlier disease detection, personalized treatment selection, and real-time monitoring, establishing exosomes as a transformative platform in nano-diagnostics and molecular medicine.