Illumina, partners make US$100m bet to detect cancer via blood test

Chicago

GENE sequencing company Illumina Inc is going after the next big advance in cancer detection, working to develop a universal blood test to identify early-stage cancers in people with no symptoms of the disease.

On Sunday, San Diego-based Illumina said it would form a new company, called Grail, with more than US$100 million in Series A financing. Illumina will be the majority owner. Key investors include technology giants Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, as well as backing from ARCH Venture Partners and Sutter Hill Ventures.