Every day, cancer patients undergo biopsies that determine the treatments they can and can’taccess, such as precision medicines that target a patient’s specific tumor. Yet much of the molecular information needed to guide precision medicine never makes it out of the procedure room. Virchow Medical is changing that.
The company is building technology and data infrastructure designed to capture and generate more clinically meaningful genomic data from routine biopsy procedures. Virchow’s platform has the potential to reshape how cancer is diagnosed, treated, and studied.
We’re thrilled to back the Virchow team in their mission to ensure every patient receives the benefits of genomic sequencing and advance the next generation of precision medicine.
Why Now
Genomic sequencing is now central to modern oncology, but many biopsies still fail to produce usable molecular data needed for next-generation sequencing test results.
Tissue exhaustion and preservation methods that degrade DNA often prevent sequencing from yielding usable information. When testing fails, patients are funneled into older treatment options like chemotherapy and radiation because repeat biopsies are often impractical and inconsistently reimbursed, leaving patients without access to targeted therapies.
The impact extends beyond patient care. Limited molecular yield constrains the flow of clinically sourced genomic data into research and drug development. We now have incredible AI models that can generate new medicines, but they’re often limited by the lack of quality real-world data. Improving the amount and quality of molecular data captured from routine biopsies is foundational to the next phase of precision medicine.
Why Virchow
Most solutions attempt to address biopsy limitations downstream through improved lab workflows or analytics. The problem there is that the molecular material downstream is already degraded or unusable.
Virchow’s approach addresses this issue at the source. The company’s core innovation, the Crow’s Nest® Biopsy Catchment® System, is a simple device that integrates directly into standard core needle biopsy workflows. The device captures dislodged tumor cells typically lost during tissue collection, producing a Liquid Companion Specimen. These are rich in intact long-chain DNA and RNA compatible with long-read sequencing. And notably, they’re created without taking anything additional from the patient.
These specimens feed into the Virchow VaultTM, the company’s proprietary biorepository and molecular test results platform, creating a direct benefit for the patient whose biopsy they came from – a greater likelihood of qualifying for precision medicine. By increasing the molecular material captured from each biopsy, Virchow expands the amount and quality of genomic data available from routine procedures.
What stood out to us early was the clarity of the wedge: a simple adjustment to the workflow that materially changes how much molecular data is captured, preserved, and ultimately used.
Most importantly, we were impressed with the Virchow team’s execution and intimate understanding of the problem. Virchow was foundedby Dr. Alexander Arrow and Dr. Wilfrido Mojica, co-inventors of the core technology. As the chief of pathology at a community-based hospital in Niagara Falls, New York, Dr. Mojica experienced the consequences of suboptimal biopsy specimens firsthand, motivating him to challenge the current paradigm and build a better one.
What’s Next
Harnessing Virchow’s technology has the potential to be impactful across the healthcare ecosystem.
Clinicians can retrieve stored companion specimens and access more options for genomic testing without subjecting patients to repeat biopsies. Hospital administrators can reduce costly, laborious repeat biopsy procedures. Pharma R&D partners can screen promising drug candidates by accessing de-identified liquid specimens of rare mutations that correspond to a disease of interest.
Why We’re Excited
Precision oncology is advancing rapidly, but the clinical data supply chain remains constrained. Improving molecular yield at the biopsy level is one of the most direct ways to expand access to targeted therapies while accelerating discovery.
By capturing molecular data that would otherwise be lost, Virchow is expanding the availability of clinically sourced genomic data that underpin both patient care and future drug development. We believe this shift from data loss to data stewardship can significantly change outcomes for patients and the pace of progress in oncology.
We’re proud to partner with the Virchow team as they build toward that future.
Visit virchowmed.com for more information.
Suggested Reads
