CellMax Life
CellMax Life is a private molecular diagnostics company that has developed the FirstSightCRC blood test, a non-invasive multimodal liquid biopsy using its proprietary CMx circulating epithelial cell platform for early detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous adenomas, serving average-risk adults aged 45 and over through physician-ordered testing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSunnyvale, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CellMax Life does
CellMax Life is a private molecular diagnostics company founded in 2012 by Atul Sharan and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with a secondary office in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The company has developed a proprietary liquid biopsy platform called CMx (Circulating Epithelial Cell Bio-Mimetic) that detects circulating epithelial cells (CECs) shed from precancerous and cancerous lesions into the bloodstream. Its lead commercial product, FirstSightCRC, is a non-invasive multimodal blood test combining CEC detection with somatic mutation and methylation analysis from cell-free tumor DNA. The test is processed in the company's CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Sunnyvale and reports a binary positive/negative result. Published clinical performance includes an AUC of 0.897 for adenoma detection and 0.958 for colorectal cancer detection, with 100% sensitivity (95% CI: 71.5%-100%) for CRC and 75.5% sensitivity (95% CI: 61.7%-86.2%) for advanced adenomas at 90% specificity in external validation.
The company targets average-risk adults aged 45 and older — a population of 125+ million Americans recommended for routine colorectal cancer screening under USPSTF, NCCN, and American Cancer Society guidelines — for whom colonoscopy compliance is below 40%. A secondary use case is post-polypectomy surveillance risk stratification. FirstSight is physician-ordered and not available direct-to-consumer; revenue is generated through laboratory diagnostic testing services on samples sent to the Sunnyvale lab. CellMax secured FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for FirstSight in August 2021 and entered a strategic development and commercialization partnership with Sebela Pharmaceuticals in March 2021 alongside its Series C financing.
The company is led by CEO and co-founder Atul Sharan, with CSO and VP of R&D Rui Mei (PhD, ex-Centrillion Biosciences), Chief Technology Advisor John Sninsky (PhD, former CSO of CareDx, 30+ years across Roche Molecular Systems, Celera, and Quest Diagnostics), and Sr. VP of Clinical Studies and Biostatistics Drew Watson (PhD, ex-Genomic Health where he led the pivotal Oncotype DX trial). The company operates with 51-100 employees, a global R&D team, and protects its core technology with 16 patents covering the microfluidic chip, colon-specific antibodies, and air-foam release mechanism.
CellMax Life firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CellMax Life
- Legal name
- CellMax, Inc.
- Website
- https://cellmaxlife.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CellMax Life is a private molecular diagnostics company that has developed the FirstSightCRC blood test, a non-invasive multimodal liquid biopsy using its proprietary CMx circulating epithelial cell platform for early detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous adenomas, serving average-risk adults aged 45 and over through physician-ordered testing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CellMax Life industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cancer Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- 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), Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers (ctDNA/ctRNA/CTCs/exosomes) (HLAAAMAH), Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB), Clinical Biomarker Testing Services (central labs, trial enrollment/monitoring assays) (HLAAAMAC)
Keywords
Where CellMax Life is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sunnyvale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CellMax Life business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laboratory Diagnostic Testing Services: CellMax Life generates revenue through providing CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory testing services for its FirstSight blood test. The test is performed on blood samples collected by healthcare providers and processed in their certified laboratory.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
CellMax Life product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CellMax Life develops and commercializes non-invasive blood-based diagnostic tests for early cancer detection, with its flagship FirstSightCRC test screening for colorectal cancer and precancerous adenomas. The tests leverage a proprietary Circulating Epithelial Cell Bio-Mimetic (CMx) platform combining microfluidic cell capture with multimodal biomarker (mutation, methylation) analysis. Testing is performed in the company's CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Sunnyvale, California, with samples ordered through healthcare providers.
Product overview
CellMax Life offers a portfolio of non-invasive blood tests for cancer screening and early detection, anchored by the FirstSightCRC blood test for colorectal cancer and pre-cancer detection. The company's proprietary CMx platform (Circulating Epithelial Cell Bio-Mimetic) forms the core technology foundation, utilizing a patented microfluidic chip with colon-specific antibodies and air-foam cell release mechanism. The test analyzes circulating gastrointestinal epithelial cells (CECs) along with mutation and methylation data through proprietary algorithms. The company also operates multi-biomarker platforms covering next generation sequencing (NGS), methylation, and protein expression. CellMax Life is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with a CLIA certified and CAP accredited laboratory at this location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FirstSight: FirstSight™ - the first blood test for colon cancer screening and prevention. A multimodal liquid biopsy test that detects circulating gastrointestinal epithelial cells (CECs) and genomic markers (mutations and methylation) in a single blood sample for early detection of colorectal cancer and precancerous adenomas.
Products and services
- FirstSightCRC (FirstSight™) A non-invasive multimodal blood test for early detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancerous adenomas (precancerous polyps). The test uses the proprietary CMx platform to detect circulating precancer and cancer cells shed into the blood during early cancer development, combining circulating gastrointestinal epithelial cell (CEC) detection with mutation and methylation analysis. Reports results as positive or negative.
- Multi-biomarker Platforms Comprehensive biomarker detection platforms covering precancer and cancer cell detection, next generation sequencing (NGS), methylation, and protein expression platforms for multi-marker cancer screening and detection.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces mortality from colorectal cancer by 53% through adenoma detection and removal
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CellMax Life
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CellMax Life technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CellMax Life partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sebela PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic development and commercialization partnership for FirstSight blood test for detection of colorectal cancer and pre-cancer. CellMax Life closed Series C financing to accelerate development and regulatory approvals of FirstSight in conjunction with this partnership.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CellMax Life competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Natera: Clinical-grade molecular diagnostics company offering cell-free DNA tests across oncology, women's health, and organ health. Comparable to CellMax in deploying proprietary cfDNA/cell-based assays from a CLIA-certified lab and selling into physician channels.
- CareDx: Specialty diagnostics company focused on transplant and immune disorder monitoring, with prior CSO Dr. John Sninsky now advising CellMax. Comparable as a publicly traded specialty molecular diagnostics company operating CLIA-certified lab services and engaging in PMA-style clinical evidence generation.
- Quest Diagnostics: One of the largest clinical laboratory services companies in the U.S., offering a broad menu of diagnostic tests including oncology and genetics. Comparable to CellMax as a scaled reference lab operator with physician ordering workflows and payer relationships.
- Genomic Health (Exact Sciences subsidiary): Now part of Exact Sciences, Genomic Health pioneered Oncotype DX and established clinical-grade genomic diagnostics with Medicare coverage. Relevant incumbent comparable to CellMax in operating CLIA-certified molecular diagnostic labs and pursuing reimbursement-driven commercial models.
Emerging players
- GRAIL: Developer of the Galleri multi-cancer early detection blood test using methylation-based ctDNA analysis. Comparable to CellMax in targeting non-invasive blood-based cancer screening, though broader in indication scope (multi-cancer vs. CRC-focused).
- AnchorDx: China- and U.S.-based cancer screening diagnostics company developing blood-based methylation assays for early cancer detection. Comparable to CellMax in pursuing non-invasive blood-based cancer screening, particularly relevant given CellMax's Taiwan R&D footprint.
- Freenome: Multiomics blood-based early cancer detection company with a lead colorectal cancer screening program (PREEMPT CRC). Comparable to CellMax in deploying proprietary blood-based biomarker assays for early cancer detection and competing for similar screening populations.
- Adela: Early-detection company developing a blood-based methylated DNA platform for multi-cancer detection. Comparable to CellMax in deploying next-generation liquid biopsy technology for early cancer screening from a clinical-grade lab.
Direct peers
- Exact Sciences: Developer of Cologuard, the leading FDA-approved non-invasive stool-based colorectal cancer screening test, and Thrive Earlier Detection (acquired). Direct competitor to FirstSight in the non-invasive CRC screening category, with established Medicare coverage and broad physician adoption.
- Guardant Health: Developer of the Shield blood-based CRC screening test and a leading liquid biopsy oncology diagnostics franchise. Directly comparable to CellMax in blood-based CRC detection technology, target customer (prescribing physicians), and business model (lab-developed test services).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CellMax Life social profiles
Digital presenceCellMax Life compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
CellMax Life financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CellMax Life leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CellMax Life funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CellMax Life 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 CellMax Life
What does CellMax Life do?
CellMax Life develops and commercializes non-invasive blood-based diagnostic tests for early cancer detection, with its flagship FirstSightCRC test screening for colorectal cancer and precancerous adenomas. The tests leverage a proprietary Circulating Epithelial Cell Bio-Mimetic (CMx) platform combining microfluidic cell capture with multimodal biomarker (mutation, methylation) analysis. Testing is performed in the company's CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Sunnyvale, California, with samples ordered through healthcare providers.
Is CellMax Life a public or private company?
CellMax Life is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CellMax Life founded?
CellMax Life was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CellMax Life based?
CellMax Life is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, in the North America region.
How does CellMax Life make money?
One revenue line is on record: laboratory Diagnostic Testing Services.
Who are CellMax Life's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Natera, CareDx, Quest Diagnostics and Genomic Health (Exact Sciences subsidiary). Emerging players are GRAIL, AnchorDx, Freenome and Adela. Direct peers are Exact Sciences and Guardant Health.
Does CellMax Life have an API?
No public API is recorded for CellMax Life.
What industry is CellMax Life in?
CellMax Life'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 621511 and its SIC code is 2835.