Why we Invested in Prenostics
Prenostics is pioneering a new path in cancer prevention with a groundbreaking technology to detect cancer before it's detectable
Mar 10, 2025
At Pace, we back founders who take big swings with a bold vision. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our investment in Prenostics, a company pioneering the future of cancer prevention and early detection with its groundbreaking technology that identifies precancerous conditions years before cancer manifests itself.
The Opportunity
Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, responsible for nearly one in six deaths worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment and reductions in mortality rates, the incidence of new cancer cases continues to rise, with projections estimating over 35 million annual diagnoses by 2050.
Economic Impact: The cost of cancer to the global economy is staggering, with estimates reaching $25.2 trillion between 2020 and 2050.
Current Screening Limitations: While early detection through screening has proven effective in reducing mortality rates, conventional methods often focus on detecting cancer after it has already become invasive. This limits the potential for prevention and early intervention.
Disparities in Outcomes: Significant disparities persist across populations, with mortality rates for certain cancers twice as high in underserved communities compared to others. This highlights the urgent need for accessible, predictive, and preventive solutions.
Evidence now shows that most cancers take years or even decades to develop, starting from normal cells to precancerous cells (or precancer) to cancer. The potential to shift from reactive to proactive healthcare by detecting precancerous conditions early is a monumental step forward—one that could redefine how we approach cancer prevention globally.
Prenostics’ Solution
Prenostics is revolutionizing cancer prevention with a blood test that predicts cancer development years in advance. Unlike traditional methods that search for cancer cells, Prenostics focuses on cellular behavior, identifying unique protein signatures associated with precancerous conditions.
Key highlights of their approach include:
Unparalleled Accuracy: In a study involving 48 high-risk carriers, Prenostics’ test identified 100% of precancers.
Market Differentiation: By targeting precancers, Prenostics taps into an untapped segment of the cancer diagnostics market, setting itself apart from companies focused solely on early cancer detection.
Scalable and Non-Invasive: As a blood test, Prenostics’ solution offers a scalable, non-invasive alternative to traditional screening methods, increasing accessibility and compliance.
How It Works
Prenostics leverages a proprietary platform to:
Detect a unique set of proteins associated with precancers and cancers in the bloodstream.
Use advanced analytics to predict the likelihood of cancer development, providing actionable insights for early intervention.
This approach addresses the limitations of existing diagnostics and paves the way for a new standard in predictive healthcare.
The Team
Prenostics is led by an exceptional team with deep expertise in oncology and business strategy:
Sarah Blagden (Co-Founder & CEO): A Professor of Oncology and Research Lead at the University of Oxford, Sarah brings 25 years of experience in cancer research and RNA biology. Her groundbreaking work in cancer preventatives, including vaccines and therapeutics, forms the foundation of Prenostics. Sarah has also been tasked to lead the GSK / Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Program to prevent through a vaccination program.
Stephen Cryan (Co-Founder): With a strong background in startup consulting, strategy, and financing, Stephen complements Sarah’s scientific expertise with operational excellence and business acumen.
Together, they embody the rare combination of visionary science and practical execution needed to tackle one of the world’s most significant health challenges.
Prenostics’ Impact
The implications of Prenostics’ technology are profound:
Preventative Potential: By detecting precancers, Prenostics shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, reducing the physical, emotional, and financial toll of invasive cancer therapies.
Broader Accessibility: The scalability of a blood test allows for widespread adoption, particularly in underserved regions where traditional cancer screenings are less accessible.
Transformative Healthcare: Prenostics’ approach could lead to a paradigm shift in oncology, enabling healthcare systems to allocate resources more effectively and improve outcomes across populations.
At Pace, we back founders who take big swings with a bold vision. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our investment in Prenostics, a company pioneering the future of cancer prevention and early detection with its groundbreaking technology that identifies precancerous conditions years before cancer manifests itself.
The Opportunity
Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, responsible for nearly one in six deaths worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment and reductions in mortality rates, the incidence of new cancer cases continues to rise, with projections estimating over 35 million annual diagnoses by 2050.
Economic Impact: The cost of cancer to the global economy is staggering, with estimates reaching $25.2 trillion between 2020 and 2050.
Current Screening Limitations: While early detection through screening has proven effective in reducing mortality rates, conventional methods often focus on detecting cancer after it has already become invasive. This limits the potential for prevention and early intervention.
Disparities in Outcomes: Significant disparities persist across populations, with mortality rates for certain cancers twice as high in underserved communities compared to others. This highlights the urgent need for accessible, predictive, and preventive solutions.
Evidence now shows that most cancers take years or even decades to develop, starting from normal cells to precancerous cells (or precancer) to cancer. The potential to shift from reactive to proactive healthcare by detecting precancerous conditions early is a monumental step forward—one that could redefine how we approach cancer prevention globally.
Prenostics’ Solution
Prenostics is revolutionizing cancer prevention with a blood test that predicts cancer development years in advance. Unlike traditional methods that search for cancer cells, Prenostics focuses on cellular behavior, identifying unique protein signatures associated with precancerous conditions.
Key highlights of their approach include:
Unparalleled Accuracy: In a study involving 48 high-risk carriers, Prenostics’ test identified 100% of precancers.
Market Differentiation: By targeting precancers, Prenostics taps into an untapped segment of the cancer diagnostics market, setting itself apart from companies focused solely on early cancer detection.
Scalable and Non-Invasive: As a blood test, Prenostics’ solution offers a scalable, non-invasive alternative to traditional screening methods, increasing accessibility and compliance.
How It Works
Prenostics leverages a proprietary platform to:
Detect a unique set of proteins associated with precancers and cancers in the bloodstream.
Use advanced analytics to predict the likelihood of cancer development, providing actionable insights for early intervention.
This approach addresses the limitations of existing diagnostics and paves the way for a new standard in predictive healthcare.
The Team
Prenostics is led by an exceptional team with deep expertise in oncology and business strategy:
Sarah Blagden (Co-Founder & CEO): A Professor of Oncology and Research Lead at the University of Oxford, Sarah brings 25 years of experience in cancer research and RNA biology. Her groundbreaking work in cancer preventatives, including vaccines and therapeutics, forms the foundation of Prenostics. Sarah has also been tasked to lead the GSK / Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Program to prevent through a vaccination program.
Stephen Cryan (Co-Founder): With a strong background in startup consulting, strategy, and financing, Stephen complements Sarah’s scientific expertise with operational excellence and business acumen.
Together, they embody the rare combination of visionary science and practical execution needed to tackle one of the world’s most significant health challenges.
Prenostics’ Impact
The implications of Prenostics’ technology are profound:
Preventative Potential: By detecting precancers, Prenostics shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, reducing the physical, emotional, and financial toll of invasive cancer therapies.
Broader Accessibility: The scalability of a blood test allows for widespread adoption, particularly in underserved regions where traditional cancer screenings are less accessible.
Transformative Healthcare: Prenostics’ approach could lead to a paradigm shift in oncology, enabling healthcare systems to allocate resources more effectively and improve outcomes across populations.
At Pace, we back founders who take big swings with a bold vision. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our investment in Prenostics, a company pioneering the future of cancer prevention and early detection with its groundbreaking technology that identifies precancerous conditions years before cancer manifests itself.
The Opportunity
Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, responsible for nearly one in six deaths worldwide. Despite advancements in treatment and reductions in mortality rates, the incidence of new cancer cases continues to rise, with projections estimating over 35 million annual diagnoses by 2050.
Economic Impact: The cost of cancer to the global economy is staggering, with estimates reaching $25.2 trillion between 2020 and 2050.
Current Screening Limitations: While early detection through screening has proven effective in reducing mortality rates, conventional methods often focus on detecting cancer after it has already become invasive. This limits the potential for prevention and early intervention.
Disparities in Outcomes: Significant disparities persist across populations, with mortality rates for certain cancers twice as high in underserved communities compared to others. This highlights the urgent need for accessible, predictive, and preventive solutions.
Evidence now shows that most cancers take years or even decades to develop, starting from normal cells to precancerous cells (or precancer) to cancer. The potential to shift from reactive to proactive healthcare by detecting precancerous conditions early is a monumental step forward—one that could redefine how we approach cancer prevention globally.
Prenostics’ Solution
Prenostics is revolutionizing cancer prevention with a blood test that predicts cancer development years in advance. Unlike traditional methods that search for cancer cells, Prenostics focuses on cellular behavior, identifying unique protein signatures associated with precancerous conditions.
Key highlights of their approach include:
Unparalleled Accuracy: In a study involving 48 high-risk carriers, Prenostics’ test identified 100% of precancers.
Market Differentiation: By targeting precancers, Prenostics taps into an untapped segment of the cancer diagnostics market, setting itself apart from companies focused solely on early cancer detection.
Scalable and Non-Invasive: As a blood test, Prenostics’ solution offers a scalable, non-invasive alternative to traditional screening methods, increasing accessibility and compliance.
How It Works
Prenostics leverages a proprietary platform to:
Detect a unique set of proteins associated with precancers and cancers in the bloodstream.
Use advanced analytics to predict the likelihood of cancer development, providing actionable insights for early intervention.
This approach addresses the limitations of existing diagnostics and paves the way for a new standard in predictive healthcare.
The Team
Prenostics is led by an exceptional team with deep expertise in oncology and business strategy:
Sarah Blagden (Co-Founder & CEO): A Professor of Oncology and Research Lead at the University of Oxford, Sarah brings 25 years of experience in cancer research and RNA biology. Her groundbreaking work in cancer preventatives, including vaccines and therapeutics, forms the foundation of Prenostics. Sarah has also been tasked to lead the GSK / Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Program to prevent through a vaccination program.
Stephen Cryan (Co-Founder): With a strong background in startup consulting, strategy, and financing, Stephen complements Sarah’s scientific expertise with operational excellence and business acumen.
Together, they embody the rare combination of visionary science and practical execution needed to tackle one of the world’s most significant health challenges.
Prenostics’ Impact
The implications of Prenostics’ technology are profound:
Preventative Potential: By detecting precancers, Prenostics shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, reducing the physical, emotional, and financial toll of invasive cancer therapies.
Broader Accessibility: The scalability of a blood test allows for widespread adoption, particularly in underserved regions where traditional cancer screenings are less accessible.
Transformative Healthcare: Prenostics’ approach could lead to a paradigm shift in oncology, enabling healthcare systems to allocate resources more effectively and improve outcomes across populations.