What Sherlock Biosciences does

Sherlock Biosciences is a CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics company that develops rapid, equipment-minimal tests for detecting DNA and RNA targets in clinical and consumer settings. Its core technology is the SHERLOCK platform, built around the Cas13 enzyme and operated under an exclusive license from the Broad Institute, which enables programmable nucleic acid detection outside specialized laboratory infrastructure. The company's product portfolio includes STOPCovid, which received FDA Emergency Use Authorization in 2020 as the first FDA-authorized CRISPR diagnostic test, the commercially launched SHERLOCK CRISPR Diagnostic Kit (2025), and a pipeline of rapid molecular diagnostic devices targeting sub-10-minute results for home and point-of-care use. Sherlock pursued a dual go-to-market model addressing healthcare providers requiring fast turnaround molecular testing and individual consumers seeking accessible at-home diagnostics, with stated application expansion into agriculture and environmental monitoring.

The company was co-founded in 2017 by MIT researchers Omar Abudayyeh and Jonathan Gootenberg alongside a high-profile scientific advisory group including Feng Zhang, David R. Walt, Jim Collins, Pardis Sabeti, and Todd Golub. It raised approximately $111 million in disclosed funding across rounds led by Northpond Ventures (Series A, 2019), Novalis LifeSciences (Series B, 2022), with participation from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Illumina Ventures, Catalio Capital Management, and others. Revenue mechanics consisted of diagnostic product sales and potential licensing royalties from the Broad Institute platform. In February 2023 the company acquired Sense Biodetection to broaden its instrument-free rapid diagnostic capabilities, and in December 2024 Sherlock was itself acquired by OraSure Technologies (NASDAQ: OSUR) to integrate CRISPR molecular diagnostics into OraSure's point-of-care and home STI testing portfolio.

Name

Sherlock Biosciences

Legal name

Sherlock Biosciences, Inc.

Website

https://sherlock.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sherlock Biosciences is a CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics company developing rapid, equipment-minimal DNA and RNA detection tests for clinical and consumer markets. Now a subsidiary of OraSure Technologies following its December 2024 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Molecular Diagnostics

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (6215)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD) (HLAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA), Molecular & Genetic Testing (PCR/NGS/qPCR) (HLAGADAF)

Keywords

• CRISPR diagnostics
• Molecular diagnostics
• Infectious disease testing
• Point-of-care testing
• DNA RNA detection

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Diagnostic Products: Revenue generated from the sale of rapid molecular diagnostic devices and tests for clinical and consumer markets, including COVID-19 testing and STI testing platforms.
2. Technology Licensing: Exclusive license arrangement with Broad Institute for CRISPR platform technology, potentially generating licensing royalties from the proprietary SHERLOCK diagnostics platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

Sherlock Biosciences develops CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic kits and devices using the Cas13 enzyme for rapid DNA and RNA target detection. Its SHERLOCK platform powers multiple diagnostic offerings, including the FDA Emergency Use Authorized STOPCovid test, designed for rapid results in less than 10 minutes with minimal equipment requirements for point-of-care and home-use applications.

Product overview

Sherlock Biosciences operates as a CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics company with a platform-plus-products architecture. The core SHERLOCK CRISPR platform (with exclusive license from Broad Institute) powers multiple offerings including the FDA-authorized STOPCovid test and the commercialized SHERLOCK CRISPR Diagnostic Kit for DNA/RNA detection. The company is developing rapid molecular diagnostic devices for home use targeting both clinical and consumer markets. The technology portfolio spans infectious disease diagnostics (COVID-19, STIs) with applications expanding to agriculture and environmental monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SHERLOCK CRISPR Diagnostic Kit A CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic kit utilizing the Cas13 enzyme for detection of DNA and RNA targets, offering rapid, accurate disease diagnostics with minimal equipment requirements for clinical and consumer markets.
• STOPCovid FDA Emergency Use Authorized CRISPR-based COVID-19 diagnostic test developed by MIT co-founders. Designed for rapid, easy use enabling detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus from patient samples outside specialized laboratory settings.
• Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Devices for Home Use Next-generation rapid molecular diagnostic devices leveraging CRISPR and synthetic biology technologies. Target results in less than 10 minutes for both clinical and consumer markets with home-use capability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Results delivered in less than 10 minutes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Broad InstitutecoreTechnology or Integration · 8 March 2022Exclusive licensing agreement for CRISPR platform technology used in SHERLOCK diagnostics. This is a foundational technology partnership that enables Sherlock Biosciences to commercialize CRISPR-based molecular diagnostic products.
• OraSure TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired Sherlock Biosciences in December 2024 to integrate Sherlock's molecular diagnostics platform for home testing of sexually transmitted infections. The acquisition expands OraSure's point-of-care testing development capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mammoth Biosciences: Mammoth Biosciences is the closest direct competitor in CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics, co-founded by Jennifer Doudna. It develops the DETECTR platform using Cas12 and Cas13 enzymes for DNA/RNA detection across infectious disease and oncology — directly overlapping Sherlock's SHERLOCK platform in technology, modality, and target customers.

Broad incumbents

• Cepheid (Danaher): Cepheid, a Danaher subsidiary, is the established leader in rapid molecular diagnostics with its GeneXpert system deployed across hospitals and reference labs globally. It competes with Sherlock in clinical molecular diagnostic workflows but operates at much larger scale and across a broader menu of indications.
• bioMérieux (BioFire Diagnostics): BioFire, a subsidiary of bioMérieux, markets the FilmArray syndromic molecular diagnostic panels widely used in clinical settings. It represents a broad incumbent in rapid molecular diagnostics with established hospital placement that competes for the same clinical customer set as Sherlock's clinical-channel products.
• Hologic: Hologic's Panther Fusion system provides high-throughput molecular diagnostics for infectious disease and women's health, including STI testing — directly overlapping with the STI testing use case Sherlock is pursuing through OraSure. It is a broad incumbent with established relationships in the same hospital and reference lab channels.
• Abbott Diagnostics: Abbott offers ID NOW, a rapid molecular point-of-care platform, alongside its broader Alinity diagnostics franchise. It is a broad incumbent competing across both clinical molecular diagnostics and rapid point-of-care testing where Sherlock's STOPCovid and home-use devices are positioned.
• QIAGEN: QIAGEN provides sample-preparation and molecular diagnostic testing solutions used widely in clinical and research labs. It serves as an incumbent in the broader molecular diagnostics workflow and represents a potential commercialization partner or competitor for Sherlock's platform depending on direction.
• Roche Diagnostics: Roche Diagnostics operates the cobas molecular diagnostic franchise, which is one of the largest installed bases of high-throughput molecular testing globally. It is a broad incumbent that competes for the same clinical and reference lab molecular diagnostic customers Sherlock targets.

Emerging players

• Cue Health: Cue Health developed a connected at-home molecular diagnostic cartridge platform initially for COVID-19 and expanding into other respiratory and sexual health indications. It competes directly with Sherlock's home-use rapid molecular diagnostic positioning and represents a comparable consumer health go-to-market model.
• Detect (formerly Homodeus): Detect is developing CRISPR-based at-home molecular diagnostic tests for infectious disease, including a CRISPR-Cas12a-based platform. It is an emerging player directly comparable to Sherlock's consumer molecular diagnostic positioning with overlapping chemistry and use-case focus.
• binx health: binx health offers rapid molecular diagnostic testing for sexually transmitted infections through both clinical and at-home channels. It directly competes with Sherlock's planned STI testing expansion through OraSure, with comparable platform strategy targeting the same customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sherlock_bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sherlock Biosciences