At the leading AACR 2025 Annual Meeting recently held in Chicago, Parithera presented the initial results of its cutting-edge precision oncology platform, positioning it among the market leaders in the field. Building on the interest generated, the start-up led by Antoine Herzog is now in advanced discussions to finalize its first partnerships with biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
A few days ago at AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Conference in Chicago, Biopôle-based Parithera presented the first results of its groundbreaking ExTrace platform to detect and analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs), pioneering next-generation precision oncology.
This innovative technology, co-developed by Parithera, CSEM and CHUV | Lausanne university hospital, is set to revolutionize cancer diagnostics and treatment decisions by providing a minimally invasive diagnostic which analyses cancer treatments’ resistance and allows clinicians to adjust treatment regimen.
ExTrace is a first-in-class system that integrates high-purity CTC isolation directly with single-cell sample preparation using droplet microfluidics. Achieving up to 50% purity, ExTrace enables single-cell resolution of tumor heterogeneity—without transfer losses. The ExTrace technology will moreover be complemented by an AI analysis suite for data-rich insights.
Within the collaboration, supported by Innosuisse, Parithera and CSEM developed an automated workflow to isolate and process CTCs from whole blood to derive cell library preparations at single cell resolution compatible with sequencing technologies. The team could successfully benchmark the novel process with clinical patient samples at CHUV.
A pioneering precision oncology platform
Contacted by Startupticker.ch, CEO and Cofounder Antoine Herzog tells us what sets Parithera's ExTrace apart: “Our platform is developed to perform single cell sequencing of rare cells such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs). It is the first platform that integrates the cell isolation and molecular barcoding, making it uniquely suitable for clinical settings. Our first application is as the first liquid biopsy for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a booming modality in oncology which captured over $100B of biopharma investments in 2023 alone.”
Building on the market interest generated at the AACR Conference in Chicago, EPFL spin-off Parithera is now in advanced discussions to finalize its first partnerships with biopharma and biotech as well as industry companies. Seven people work today at Parithera.
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The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
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