Oncologica

What Oncologica does

Oncologica UK Limited is a Cambridge-based precision oncology laboratory founded in 2014 by Prof Gareth H Williams and Dr Marco Loddo, operating as one of the first clinically approved genomic profiling laboratories in Europe. The company sells three core diagnostic tests: Oncofocus, a 505-gene DNA/RNA sequencing panel that links actionable tumor mutations to 700 targeted therapies and clinical trials; Immunofocus, a suite of tests for immunotherapy response prediction including tumor mutational burden (TMB), PD-L1 expression, and mismatch repair (MMR) gene analysis; and ProstateFocus, an AI-driven non-invasive urine liquid biopsy test for early prostate cancer detection reporting AUC of 0.93 versus 0.66 for standard PSA. Underlying technology combines next-generation sequencing with semiconductor sequencing platforms (ThermoFisher TaqPath and Ion AmpliSeq) and proprietary cell cycle engine analysis methodology protected by international patents and 40+ peer-reviewed publications. The company also runs a contract research organization (CRO) offering biomarker discovery and companion diagnostics for pharmaceutical clients, and from 2020 to 2022 scaled a high-volume COVID-19 PCR testing and genomic sequencing business that delivered up to 40,000 tests per day as the largest surge laboratory in the UK under a DHSC/UKHSA contract.

Oncologica monetizes precision oncology tests through clinician- and hospital-ordered B2B sales at approximately £2,000 per test (covered by all leading UK health insurers, with direct-pay option), supplemented by CRO professional services revenue, government COVID-19 testing contracts, and a new direct-to-consumer channel for ProstateFocus with a subscription or per-test home urine kit model. The customer base spans NHS hospitals and oncologists (primary), cancer patients (primary persona), pharmaceutical and biotech companies (CRO), the UK Government (COVID), and corporate/institutional clients. Distribution combines clinician-initiated test ordering with worldwide sample shipment, an e-commerce storefront at covid-19.oncologica.com, and a proprietary IT platform with mobile app, API, built-in CRM, and automated results reporting load-tested to 50,000 samples per day and 45,000 concurrent users.

The business is founder-led and privately held, with no disclosed external funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors. Notable strategic relationships include an AstraZeneca collaboration on the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay companion diagnostic (2018), a Christie Hospital Manchester referral pipeline for clinical trial enrollment including the PROCLAIM-CX-072 trial, and an IQN Path expert guidelines collaboration. Headcount is in the 11-50 range and revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is recognized via BBC Tomorrow's World Health Innovation Award (2000), UK Medical Futures Innovation Award (2008), and shortlisting for the PMI Special Covid-19 UK Response Project Award (2020).

Name

Oncologica

Legal name

Oncologica UK Limited

Website

https://oncologica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oncologica is a UK-based precision oncology laboratory offering genomic profiling tests (Oncofocus, Immunofocus) and an AI-driven urine liquid biopsy (ProstateFocus) to match cancer patients with targeted therapies and enable early prostate cancer detection for clinicians, hospitals, insurers, and pharma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Precision Oncology Testing Services: Revenue generated from comprehensive genomic profiling tests (Oncofocus, Immunofocus) that sequence tumor DNA/RNA to match patients with targeted therapies. Tests are ordered by oncologists for patients with solid tumors. The test is covered by all leading health insurers and can also be paid for directly by patients.
2. Contract Research Services: Oncologica functions as a Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing genomic research services, biomarker discovery, and companion diagnostics development for pharmaceutical and biotech companies supporting drug development programs.
3. COVID-19 Testing Services: High-volume PCR testing and genomic sequencing services for international travellers, private companies, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and transport networks. Services include test kits, processing, and variant sequencing under government contracts.
4. Early Cancer Detection Screening: ProstateFocus AI-driven prostate cancer screening test offered as a non-invasive home urine test. Provides subscription or per-test revenue model for early cancer detection services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Oncologica operates a clinically approved cancer genetics laboratory providing precision oncology testing services. Its core offerings are genomic profiling tests (Oncofocus, Immunofocus, ProstateFocus) that sequence tumor DNA/RNA from biopsy or liquid biopsy samples to identify actionable mutations and match patients with targeted therapies, immunotherapies, or clinical trials. The company also offers contract research services for pharmaceutical biomarker and companion diagnostics programs, and operates high-throughput COVID-19 PCR testing and genomic sequencing.

Product overview

Oncologica is a precision oncology company offering a suite of diagnostic tests centered on advanced genomic profiling. The core offerings include Oncofocus (a comprehensive 505-gene tumor DNA/RNA sequencing panel linking actionable mutations to 700 targeted therapies), Immunofocus (immunotherapy response prediction via TMB, PD-L1, and MMR testing), and ProstateFocus (AI-driven urine liquid biopsy for early prostate cancer detection). ProstateFocus features a proprietary IT platform with API interface for B2B connections to third-party systems and LIMS, dedicated mobile app for patients, built-in CRM, and automated reporting. The company also provides genomic research contract services and COVID-19 testing via the Coronafocus platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oncofocus Comprehensive precision oncology test that sequences DNA and RNA of a patient's tumor to generate a personalized genetic profile, targeting 505 genes with actionable mutations linked to 700 anti-cancer targeted therapies or treatments in clinical trials. Results available within 15 working days. Covered by all leading health insurers; direct patient purchase available for approximately £2,000. Targeted at oncologists and cancer patients with solid tumors seeking personalized treatment options.
• Immunofocus Suite of genetic tests designed to assess immunotherapy response, including TMB Test (measures tumor mutational burden and neoantigens), PD-L1 Test (measures PD-L1 protein expression levels), and MMR Test (analyzes mismatch repair genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 to identify DNA repair defects). Used by oncologists to identify patients likely to respond to immunotherapy and to reduce exposure to ineffective treatment.
• ProstateFocus AI-driven, non-invasive urine liquid biopsy home screening test for early prostate cancer detection. Powered by an AI-generated algorithm analyzing cell cycle engine and linked oncogenic signaling networks to identify early-stage prostate cancer with AUC 0.93 accuracy vs 0.66 for PSA. Includes a proprietary IT platform with API interface for B2B integration, dedicated mobile app, built-in CRM, and automated reporting. Sold direct-to-consumer via subscription or per-test pricing.
• Genomic Research Services Contract research services providing high-quality genetic testing and bioinformatics solutions for biomarker and drug development programs. Supports theranostic programs at all stages of cancer drug development from discovery through preclinical development to clinical trials. Targeted at pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
• COVID-19 Testing Services (Coronafocus) High-volume PCR testing and SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing services, including the Coronafocus integrated Test and Sequence platform. Uses semiconductor sequencing technology with >99% coverage of the viral genome to identify variants of concern. Capacity of up to 40,000 tests per day with 12-hour turnaround. Served international travellers, private companies, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, transport networks, and the UK DHSC/UKHSA under government contract.

Quantifiable outcome

• AUC 0.93 prostate cancer detection accuracy vs 0.66 for PSA standard
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Government (DHSC/UKHSA)coreOthers · 1 May 2020Contracted as part of the volunteer Covid-19 Testing Network to support the DHSC Covid-19 National Testing Programme covering care homes, local authorities, schools, symptomatic testing, and international arrivals. Delivered up to 40k tests per day as the largest surge laboratory in UK.
• IQN Path ASBLminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Expert opinion collaboration on integration of next-generation sequencing in clinical diagnostic molecular pathology laboratories for analysis of solid tumors. Dr Marco Loddo contributed to expert guidelines publication.
• AstraZenecacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration on VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay study involving internationally recognized pathologists to assess the performance of PD-L1 testing as a companion diagnostic for anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in lung cancer. Study completed and findings published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
• Christie Hospital ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatient referral partnership where cancer patients identified through Oncofocus testing as potential immunotherapy responders are enrolled in clinical trials at Christie Hospital, including PROCLAIM-CX-072 trial investigating PD-L1 targeting drugs.
• ThermoFisher ScientificcoreTechnology or IntegrationUsing TaqPath COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit (multiplex assay) for COVID testing and Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Research Panel for sequencing. Semiconductor sequencing technology enables >99% coverage of viral genome for precise variant identification.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Guardant Health: Guardant Health is a leader in liquid biopsy and ctDNA-based oncology testing (Guardant360, Shield), making it a direct peer for Oncologica's ProstateFocus liquid biopsy and broader precision oncology testing services.
• Personalis: Personalis provides comprehensive genomic profiling (NeXT Personal) and supports pharma biomarker programmes — a direct peer to Oncologica's Oncofocus/Immunofocus tests and its CRO/companion diagnostic services.
• Foundation Medicine: Foundation Medicine provides comprehensive genomic profiling of tumours (FoundationOne CDx) linking mutations to targeted therapies — directly comparable to Oncologica's Oncofocus 505-gene panel and Immunofocus assays.
• Caris Life Sciences: Caris provides comprehensive molecular profiling (MI Profile) and AI-driven analytics for oncology treatment selection, directly comparable to Oncologica's theranostic profiling and CRO biomarker services.
• Tempus Labs: Tempus offers NGS-based oncology profiling and AI-driven clinical decision support, comparable to Oncologica's combination of Oncofocus genomic profiling and ProstateFocus AI-driven early detection.
• Myriad Genetics: Myriad offers molecular diagnostics across oncology (BRACAnalysis, myChoice HRD) and provides companion diagnostic services for pharma, comparable to Oncologica's Immunofocus (MMR/PD-L1) and CRO biomarker work.
• Exact Sciences: Exact Sciences (including Genomic Health's Oncotype DX) provides genomic testing for cancer treatment selection and screening — comparable to Oncologica's Oncofocus theranostic tests and ProstateFocus screening.
• NeoGenomics: NeoGenomics operates a global oncology-focused clinical laboratory offering comprehensive genomic profiling, immuno-oncology testing, and pharma services — directly comparable in service portfolio to Oncologica's clinical and CRO business.

Emerging players

• Natera: Natera's Signatera MRD test and oncology liquid biopsy franchise overlaps with Oncologica's liquid biopsy/ctDNA-style approaches and broader precision oncology testing portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Techne: Bio-Techne's diagnostics segment (including ExoDx and protein biomarker assays) provides oncology diagnostic tools and reagents, making it a broader incumbent comparable to Oncologica's biomarker discovery and molecular diagnostic activities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OncologicaLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oncologica-uk-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Oncologica