Biocept
Biocept is a San Diego-based clinical diagnostics company that develops microfluidic circulating tumor cell liquid biopsy assays, primarily serving neuro-oncologists with its CNSide cerebrospinal fluid assay for CNS cancer and leptomeningeal disease monitoring.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Biocept does
Biocept is a San Diego-based clinical diagnostics company founded in 1993 and publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker BIOC. The company developed a proprietary circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection platform built on a microfluidic chip-based cell separation technology, which it applies to liquid biopsy testing in oncology. Its lead commercial product is CNSide (also referenced as IN/CNSide), a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) liquid biopsy assay designed to detect CTCs expressing the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin in patients with leptomeningeal disease and central nervous system (CNS) cancers — a positioning differentiated from most liquid biopsy peers that focus on blood-based analysis. The assay is being evaluated in the FORESEE clinical trial for clinical validation.
Biocept operates as a clinical laboratory offering laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) to practicing oncologists and neuro-oncologists, generating revenue through test reimbursement rather than a direct-to-consumer or kit-based model. Its customer base is concentrated among neuro-oncology practices and academic medical centers managing patients with CNS metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Pricing, payer mix, and reimbursement structure are not publicly disclosed in available sources. The company has raised approximately $48 million cumulatively across equity rounds from 2002 through 2023, with the most recent disclosed raise of $5 million in May 2023.
Operationally, Biocept runs a lean organization of 51-100 employees under a leadership team including CEO Antonino Morales, Chairman Samuel D. Riccitelli, COO Philippe Marchand, CMO Michael Dugan, CSO Lyle Arnold, and General Counsel Darrell Taylor. A material operational concern is that the company's website returned a DNS resolution error as of July 2026, which is consistent with severe financial distress, business interruption, or potential wind-down — a critical diligence flag for any investor or counterparty evaluating the company.
Biocept firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Biocept
- Legal name
- Biocept Inc.
- Website
- https://biocept.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Biocept is a San Diego-based clinical diagnostics company that develops microfluidic circulating tumor cell liquid biopsy assays, primarily serving neuro-oncologists with its CNSide cerebrospinal fluid assay for CNS cancer and leptomeningeal disease monitoring.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Biocept industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Molecular Cancer Diagnostics
- NAICS
- Medical Laboratories (621511), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers (ctDNA/ctRNA/CTCs/exosomes) (HLAAAMAH), Liquid Biopsy & Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Precision Testing (HLAAANAG), Clinical Biomarker Testing Services (central labs, trial enrollment/monitoring assays) (HLAAAMAC)
Keywords
Where Biocept is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Biocept business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Biocept product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Biocept develops and commercializes cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy assays — principally the CNSide/IN-CNSide assay — that detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing synaptophysin. These microfluidic chip-based assays are used by clinicians to monitor patients with leptomeningeal disease and central nervous system cancers when conventional cytology fails to identify malignant cells.
Product overview
Biocept offers a cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy assay called CNSide/IN-CNSide, designed to detect circulating tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid. This microfluidic CTC assay is used for disease surveillance in patients with leptomeningeal dissemination and central nervous system cancers, providing an alternative to conventional cytology when standard methods remain negative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CNSide / IN-CNSide Cerebrospinal Fluid Liquid Biopsy Assay
Quantifiable outcome
- Detected CTCs expressing synaptophysin in CSF at seven time points over eight months while conventional cytology remained negative throughout monitoring period
Companies that use Biocept
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Biocept technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Biocept partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Biocept competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ANGLE plc: Developer of the Parsortix CTC isolation platform for liquid biopsy, including oncology applications. Closest direct peer to Biocept in microfluidic / immunogenomics-independent CTC capture for clinical diagnostics and pharma services.
- Menarini Silicon Biosystems: Manufacturer of the CELLSEARCH system, the established circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration platform. Direct technological competitor to Biocept's microfluidic CTC capture platform, addressing similar oncology liquid-biopsy use cases across metastatic disease monitoring.
- Epic Sciences: CTC-focused liquid biopsy company offering single-cell CTC characterization for oncology therapy selection and monitoring. Direct competitor with overlapping CTC platform and oncology diagnostic positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Natera: Established molecular diagnostics company with Signatera (tumor-informed MRD) and growing oncology liquid biopsy footprint. Competes for the same oncologist budgets and payer coverage decisions as Biocept's CNSide.
- Guardant Health: Leading broad liquid biopsy platform with Guardant360 CDx, Guardant Reveal MRD, and ongoing CNS/leptomeningeal program extensions. A much larger incumbent whose multi-analyte panels compete for the same oncology liquid-biopsy spend.
- Veracyte: Genomic diagnostics company with oncology/urology products and growing liquid biopsy franchise (Decipher, Afirma, Oncotype DX acquisition). Broad incumbent with comparable oncology molecular diagnostic positioning.
- Exact Sciences: Major oncology diagnostics player with Cologuard and Oncotype products, expanding into liquid biopsy for multi-cancer and MRD applications. Competes for screening and recurrence-monitoring oncology testing share.
- NeoGenomics: Specialty oncology reference laboratory offering liquid biopsy, NGS tumor profiling, and clinical trial services. Broad incumbent with overlapping oncology diagnostic services and clinical trial support orientation.
Emerging players
- Personalis: Emerging oncology molecular diagnostics company with NeXT Personal (tumor-informed MRD) and other liquid biopsy products. Comparable as a smaller, focused liquid biopsy oncology player pursuing MRD/recurrence monitoring.
- Adaptive Biotechnologies: Blood-based immune-repertoire diagnostics company with oncology and minimal residual disease applications. Related through blood-based oncology recurrence monitoring but uses a distinct (immunosequencing) technology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Biocept social profiles
Digital presenceBiocept financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Biocept leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Biocept funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Biocept 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 Biocept
What does Biocept do?
Biocept develops and commercializes cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy assays — principally the CNSide/IN-CNSide assay — that detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) expressing synaptophysin. These microfluidic chip-based assays are used by clinicians to monitor patients with leptomeningeal disease and central nervous system cancers when conventional cytology fails to identify malignant cells.
Is Biocept a public or private company?
Biocept is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Biocept founded?
Biocept was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Biocept based?
Biocept is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Biocept's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ANGLE plc, Menarini Silicon Biosystems and Epic Sciences. Broad incumbents are Natera, Guardant Health, Veracyte, Exact Sciences and NeoGenomics. Emerging players are Personalis and Adaptive Biotechnologies.
Does Biocept have an API?
No public API is recorded for Biocept.
What industry is Biocept in?
Biocept's product category is Molecular Cancer Diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAALAE, Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy), with a secondary code of HLAAAMAH, Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers (ctDNA/ctRNA/CTCs/exosomes). Its NAICS code is 621511 and its SIC code is 2835.