Adela
Adela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing blood-based cancer detection and monitoring tests using a proprietary cfMeDIP-seq methylation enrichment platform paired with machine learning, serving biopharmaceutical clients (RUO services) and select providers/institutions via early-access clinical testing ahead of broader commercialization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersFoster City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Adela does
Adela, Inc. is a Foster City, California-based clinical-stage biotechnology company (Delaware-incorporated, with historical Toronto operations) founded in 2021 that develops blood-based tests for cancer detection, recurrence monitoring (MRD), and immunotherapy response assessment using a proprietary genome-wide methylome enrichment platform called cfMeDIP-seq. The technology performs high-affinity, nondegradative enrichment of methylated cell-free DNA from a standard blood draw, avoiding enzymatic or bisulfite conversion, and feeds a methylation atlas of 3T+ genomic data points into machine-learning classifiers that detect cancer signals, identify tissue of origin, and predict treatment response with a 6-10 day turnaround time.
The company's pipeline is anchored by a tissue-agnostic MRD assay for head & neck cancer (clinically validated in Annals of Oncology/ESMO 2024, 91% sensitivity at 88% specificity, recurrences detected up to 14.9 months before standard of care), an immunotherapy-response monitoring test for advanced solid tumors (validated in npj Precision Oncology, March 2026), and an in-development multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test supported by the prospective CAMPERR study (~6,100 of 6,300 participants enrolled across 20 cancer types). Adela currently operates a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited clinical lab and is pre-commercial at scale, distributing tests as Research Use Only (RUO) services to biopharmaceutical companies and through an early-access clinical testing program with select providers and institutions on custom/quote-based enterprise contracts.
Adela has raised approximately $113 million in total funding through a $60 million Series A led by F-Prime Capital (2021), a $48 million Series A1 joined by Labcorp as a strategic investor (2023), and an additional $5 million financing (April 2026). The company is led by CEO Lisa Alderson with a team drawn from GRAIL (CMO Anne-Renee Hartman), SomaLogic/Thermo Fisher (COO Alan Williams), MaxCyte (CFO Amanda Murphy), and co-founders CSO Dr. Daniel De Carvalho (cfMeDIP-seq inventor, 2025 Canada Gairdner Momentum Awardee) and CIO Dr. Scott Bratman.
Adela firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adela
- Legal name
- Adela, Inc.
- Website
- https://adelabio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Adela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing blood-based cancer detection and monitoring tests using a proprietary cfMeDIP-seq methylation enrichment platform paired with machine learning, serving biopharmaceutical clients (RUO services) and select providers/institutions via early-access clinical testing ahead of broader commercialization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Adela industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cancer Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Liquid Biopsy & Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Precision Testing (HLAAANAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE), Immuno-Oncology & Immune Monitoring Biomarkers (TMB, MSI, MRD, immune profiling) (HLAAAMAK)
Keywords
Where Adela is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Foster City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Adela business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- RUO biopharma services and clinical testing: Adela currently makes its tests available on a Research Use Only (RUO) basis to biopharmaceutical companies and other investigators for biomarker discovery and drug development (recurring B2B/enterprise service revenue). Commercial clinical testing for MRD in head & neck cancer and immunotherapy response monitoring is being expanded, with an early access program underway. The company is pre-commercial at scale, with MRD and immunotherapy response monitoring products described as 'available' but a broader MCED test still in development.
- Future clinical test commercialization (planned): Adela plans to commercialize its tissue-free MRD test for head & neck cancer and an immunotherapy response monitoring test for solid tumors for clinical use; an LDT (lab developed test) for multi-cancer early detection (MCED) trained on the CAMPERR study is in development, expected to drive future per-test/usage-based diagnostic revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Custom/quote-based enterprise pricing for RUO biopharma services and early-access clinical testing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Adela product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Adela develops and commercializes blood-based cancer detection and monitoring tests built on its proprietary cfMeDIP-seq genome-wide methylome enrichment platform. Current offerings include a tissue-agnostic molecular residual disease (MRD) test for head & neck cancer recurrence monitoring and a tissue-free immunotherapy response monitoring test for advanced solid tumors, both available to biopharma and select providers via early access, with a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test in development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tissue-Agnostic MRD Test for Head & Neck Cancer Blood-based, tissue-agnostic molecular residual disease (MRD) test that detects and surveils for recurrence in patients with head & neck cancer using Adela's cfMeDIP-seq methylome enrichment platform; intended for clinicians managing HNC patients for recurrence monitoring and treatment guidance.
- Tissue-Free Immunotherapy Response Monitoring Test Blood-based, tissue-free test that monitors response to immunotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors by measuring changes in methylated circulating tumor DNA; designed to help oncologists identify non-responders early and inform treatment continuation decisions. Currently available for biopharma research use only, with planned commercial launch later in 2026.
- Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Test Blood-based multi-cancer early detection test in development using Adela's cfMeDIP-seq methylome enrichment platform and machine-learning classifiers to enable early detection across multiple cancer types from a single blood draw; intended for clinical use upon completion of CAMPERR study validation.
- Research Use Only (RUO) Biopharma Services Research Use Only (RUO) services using Adela's methylome enrichment platform and blood-based assays, offered to biopharmaceutical companies and other investigators to support biomarker discovery and drug pipeline advancement.
Companies that use Adela
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Adela technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Adela partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Adela competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Guardant Health: Public liquid biopsy leader offering Guardant360 for comprehensive genomic profiling and Guardant Reveal for MRD detection in solid tumors. Direct competitor to Adela's MRD and pan-cancer blood-based testing franchise, with established commercial scale and Medicare coverage for some indications.
- Natera: Commercial-stage molecular diagnostics company whose Signatera tumor-informed MRD test is widely adopted in oncology. Competes directly with Adela in MRD monitoring for solid tumors, with established payer coverage and a much larger commercial footprint.
- GRAIL: Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) pioneer behind the Galleri test. The most direct competitor to Adela's CAMPERR-based MCED program, with several years of commercial lead time, real-world clinical evidence, and payer pilots.
- Personalis: Genomics company with NeXT Personal, a tumor-informed MRD assay that uses whole-genome sequencing, and a strong methylation-based technology overlap with Adela's cfMeDIP-seq platform. Highly comparable in technology approach and clinical positioning.
- Adaptive Biotechnologies: Developer of clonoSEQ, the first FDA-approved MRD test for blood cancers. Adjacent competitor in the MRD space with a different analyte (immune receptor vs methylation), and a useful benchmark for MRD commercialization and reimbursement trajectories.
Broad incumbents
- Exact Sciences: Public cancer diagnostics leader (Cologuard, Oncotype DX) with active development in MRD (Oncodetect) and multi-cancer detection. A broad incumbent with overlapping products and substantially greater capital and commercial scale than Adela.
- Foundation Medicine: Roche-owned liquid and tissue comprehensive genomic profiling company. Overlaps with Adela in oncology blood-based testing, particularly for solid tumor profiling, though Foundation's focus is on therapy selection rather than MRD/MCED.
- NeoGenomics: Oncology-focused clinical lab services company with growing liquid biopsy and MRD offerings. A broader-scale incumbent in oncology diagnostics with established hospital and biopharma channel relationships comparable to Adela's enterprise/biopharma GTM.
Emerging players
- Tempus: AI-driven precision medicine company with a broad oncology data and diagnostics platform. Overlaps with Adela on the biopharma services side (data, biomarker discovery) and is expanding into liquid biopsy, though Tempus' primary model is multi-omic data licensing rather than standalone diagnostic tests.
Regional players
- Burning Rock Biotech: China-based liquid biopsy company with cancer therapy selection and MRD products comparable to Adela's pipeline. A relevant peer for technology benchmarking, though it primarily serves the China market and does not directly compete in Adela's US footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Adela social profiles
Digital presenceAdela financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adela leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Adela funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adela M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Adela
What does Adela do?
Adela develops and commercializes blood-based cancer detection and monitoring tests built on its proprietary cfMeDIP-seq genome-wide methylome enrichment platform. Current offerings include a tissue-agnostic molecular residual disease (MRD) test for head & neck cancer recurrence monitoring and a tissue-free immunotherapy response monitoring test for advanced solid tumors, both available to biopharma and select providers via early access, with a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test in development.
Is Adela a public or private company?
Adela is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Adela founded?
Adela was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Adela based?
Adela is headquartered in Foster City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Adela make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. RUO biopharma services and clinical testing is the primary driver. The others are future clinical test commercialization (planned).
Who are Adela's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Guardant Health, Natera, GRAIL, Personalis and Adaptive Biotechnologies. Broad incumbents are Exact Sciences, Foundation Medicine and NeoGenomics. Tempus is listed as an emerging player. Burning Rock Biotech is listed as a regional player.
Does Adela have an API?
No public API is recorded for Adela.
What industry is Adela in?
Adela's product category is Cancer Diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAANAG, Liquid Biopsy & Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Precision Testing, with a secondary code of HLAAALAE, Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy). Its NAICS code is 62151 and its SIC code is 2835.