Sunbird Bio Secures $14 Million to Advance Diagnostic Platform for Neurological Disorders

Sunbird Bio, a biotechnology company focusing on non-invasive blood-based diagnostic tests designed to detect neurological disorders, announced the completion of a $14 million funding round to expand its blood-based diagnostic platform.

Sunbird’s platform uses proprietary technology to detect disease-specific proteins and biomarkers that play a central role in the progression of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s earlier and more accurately than current diagnostic methods. The company’s technology also allows for the addition of new biomarkers over time as research evolves, giving it an edge over more static diagnostic tests available today.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Singapore, Sunbird Bio strategically uses both locations. The company taps into a highly concentrated biotech ecosystem in Cambridge, while its Singapore base leverages a favorable business environment and a vibrant research network. These efforts have allowed Sunbird to establish partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies to support the clinical development of its diagnostics and accelerate product development

The financing, led by new investors Eli Lilly and the Singapore Economic Development Board’s investment arm EDBI, includes continued support from existing backers ClavystBio, Polaris Partners, and S32.

“This latest round of financing underscores our investors’ confidence in the potential of our diagnostic technology to transform outcomes for patients with neurological disorders,” said John McDonough, executive chair and CEO of Sunbird Bio. “This funding will enable us to accelerate the clinical development of our blood-based platform, which will offer physicians and patients multiple advantages as compared to currently available tests. With investment from two additional organizations that bring valuable strategic influence, we’re even better positioned to positively impact the millions of people globally who are affected by devastating neurological diseases.”
Sunbird’s existing investors have played a key role in its growth trajectory. Based in Boston, Polaris Partners is known for its focus on life sciences and healthcare investments, having raised $850 million in 2021 for its latest fund. The firm actively participates in early and late-stage rounds, betting on innovative healthcare companies with strong leadership and growth potential.

“Sunbird Bio is on the forefront of innovation in diagnostics for neurological diseases, as evidenced by the promising clinical data generated to date from its diagnostic platform,” said Alexandra Cantley, Ph.D., partner at Polaris Partners. “Our continued investment in the company illustrates our confidence that Sunbird will drive meaningful change for patients, particularly in an area where, until lately, there has been little progress. We believe Sunbird Bio’s vision, talented team of experts, and novel diagnostic technology could significantly impact diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders in the near term.”
The new investors in this funding round reflect Sunbird’s broad ambitions. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has a strong presence in neurological research, with a portfolio that includes treatments for Alzheimer’s. EDBI, the venture arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board, focuses on innovation-driven sectors. EDBI’s investment aligns with its mission to grow Singapore’s presence in global biotechnology.
“EDBI is excited to partner with Sunbird Bio as part of Singapore’s vibrant and growing community of life science companies developing groundbreaking solutions to address unmet global clinical needs,” said Christine Giam, partner at EDBI. “The nation’s robust research ecosystem, coupled with its pro-business environment and strong intellectual property protection, offers a fertile ground for innovators to advance their discoveries, and we look forward to partnering with more companies to grow and expand their footprint in Singapore.”’
The funding comes at a time when the global neurological diagnostics market is projected to grow substantially. Research from MarketsandMarkets estimates that the market for neurological biomarkers will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2%, reaching $10.3 billion by 2027. Increasing awareness of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, combined with advancements in biomarker research, is driving demand for non-invasive, early diagnostic tools. Sunbird’s platform appears well-positioned to take advantage of this trend, aligning with the broader healthcare push toward precision medicine.
The company faces competition from other diagnostics firms in the neurological space. Competitors include Quanterix Corporation, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, which specializes in digital biomarker detection, and C2N Diagnostics, a private firm from St. Louis, Missouri, focused on blood-based Alzheimer’s diagnostics. Other rivals include Tokyo-based Eisai Co., which has made advances in dementia diagnostics, as well as BioMérieux from France, a public company with expertise in in-vitro diagnostics, and Fluidigm Corporation (now Standard BioTools), which develops multi-omics technologies for various applications, including neurology.

With clinical trials set to begin in early 2025, Sunbird Bio plans to use its new capital to open new laboratories and further validate its diagnostic platform. These new facilities will increase the company’s capacity for clinical research and support its long-term goal of becoming a leader in neurological diagnostics. The company believes that its ability to monitor disease-specific biomarkers accurately and noninvasively could transform how neurological disorders are diagnosed and treated, potentially offering new hope for millions of patients worldwide.