Speclipse raises 9 billion won for laser spectroscopy and AI diagnostics

Speclipse announced on the 13th that it recently raised 9 billion won, bringing its total funding to 15.1 billion won. Speclipse specializes in medical diagnostics using laser spectroscopy and artificial intelligence.

Investors included Signite Partners, BNH Investment, and Shinhan Capital, which praised the innovation and market potential of Speclipse’s technology. Mico, which secured a controlling stake early this year, also participated in the latest share issuance. Together with its affiliate Mico BioMed, Mico is providing full support for Speclipse’s growth.

Speclipse began as a developer of cancer diagnostic devices and was founded in 2015 by graduates of Stanford University with master’s and doctoral degrees. Its first product, the Spectra-Scope skin cancer diagnostic device, obtained medical device certifications in Australia, Europe, and Brazil in 2020. The company is building a sales network spanning more than 20 countries.

The Spectra-Scope uses Laser-Induced Plasma Spectroscopy (LIPS) and artificial intelligence to diagnose suspicious skin lesions in real time and without invasive procedures. It can identify skin cancer with 95% sensitivity and 87% specificity, potentially reducing unnecessary biopsies and improving patient convenience. The device is therefore considered to have strong market demand.

Speclipse is expanding the applications of its laser spectroscopy and AI technologies from tissue to blood. To overcome the limitations of existing blood analysis technologies, it uses laser spectroscopy to detect multiple biomarkers in blood simultaneously with high sensitivity. The company is using deep learning to analyze the large volumes of blood spectroscopy data it has collected and pursuing early diagnosis of conditions such as gastric cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. The technology is still in development, but is expected to potentially reshape the liquid biopsy field.

Speclipse CEO Byun Sung-hyun said, “Skin cancer, which the Spectra-Scope targets, is more prevalent among white people. In the United States alone, skin cancer biopsies represent an annual market worth 12 trillion won. When doctors find a suspicious lesion, they examine it with a dermatoscope (magnifying lens) and then decide whether to perform a biopsy. But differences in physicians’ experience can lead to incorrect decisions about which lesions to biopsy. Speclipse’s technology can help address this.” Byun added, “By extending its laser spectroscopy- and AI-based diagnostic technology from skin tissue to blood, Speclipse will become a game changer in the liquid biopsy market—not only for skin cancer, but also for various cancers that have traditionally been difficult to diagnose early.”