CND Life Sciences has secured $13.5 million in Series A equity financing to accelerate the commercialization of its groundbreaking skin-based diagnostic for neurodegenerative diseases. The company's most recent Series A3 round brought in $8.6 million, attracting both existing investors and new strategic partners.
The funding will support expanded access to CND's flagship product, the Syn-One Test®—the first commercially available skin-based diagnostic that visualizes and quantifies abnormal alpha-synuclein, a key biomarker of synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy.
"This is a defining time for the neurodegeneration field," said Richard J. Morello, CND's CEO. "CND uses proven technology to help clinicians diagnose diseases like Parkinson's earlier and more precisely than ever before, while collaborating with biopharmaceutical companies to improve the chances for successful clinical trials for novel therapies."
Clinical Validation and Market Traction
The Syn-One Test has demonstrated impressive clinical utility, with a 2024 study published in JAMA reporting 95.5% sensitivity across several synuclein-related disorders. To date, CND has processed over 35,000 tests, with adoption by nearly 3,000 neurologists across the United States.
The diagnostic addresses a critical gap in neurodegenerative disease management, where early and accurate diagnosis has historically been challenging. By providing objective evidence of alpha-synuclein pathology through a minimally invasive skin biopsy, the test offers clinicians a powerful tool for differential diagnosis.
Strategic Investor Support
The Series A3 round attracted participation from healthcare-focused investment firm VILAS Ventures, alongside existing investors including Cambrian Capital Partners, Tanis Ventures, Lupo Labs, Top Corner Capital, HonorHealth, Triana, Gold Bench Capital, and BlueStone Ventures. New strategic investors include Labcorp, MBX Capital, and VILAS Ventures.
Daniel Livschutz, Managing Partner at VILAS Ventures, highlighted both the strategic and personal significance of the investment: "Neurodegenerative diseases remain among the most urgent unmet needs in medicine. CND's Syn-One Test combines cutting-edge pathology and AI to provide objective diagnostic clarity for clinicians and biopharma companies alike."
Livschutz added, "This investment is also personal. A family member endured years of misdiagnosis before receiving a Parkinson's diagnosis. Earlier access to objective testing like Syn-One could have significantly improved their journey."
Leadership and Growth Trajectory
Under CEO Rick Morello's leadership since 2020, CND has successfully transitioned from an early-stage company to achieving national commercial scale. Morello brings over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, including previous roles as Global President at Aptus Health (a former Merck subsidiary) and CEO of Plasma Surgical.
The company's growth comes at a pivotal time in neurodegenerative disease research and treatment development. With an aging global population and increasing prevalence of conditions like Parkinson's disease, the need for accurate diagnostic tools has never been more critical.
Implications for Drug Development
Beyond clinical diagnostics, CND's technology has significant implications for pharmaceutical research and development. By providing objective biomarker data, the Syn-One Test can potentially improve patient selection for clinical trials and serve as a valuable tool for measuring treatment response.
This application aligns with the industry's growing focus on precision medicine approaches to neurodegenerative diseases, where targeted therapies based on specific pathological mechanisms are increasingly seen as the path forward.
Market Context and Future Directions
The investment in CND reflects broader market interest in neurodegenerative disease diagnostics and treatments. With several high-profile clinical trials underway for disease-modifying therapies in Parkinson's disease and related disorders, the importance of accurate diagnosis and patient stratification has become increasingly apparent.
For VILAS Ventures, this marks their fourth healthcare investment in the past 12 months, alongside Cortechs.ai, Roshal Health, and JSCM Group. The firm specializes in late-stage growth equity and debt financing for founder-led healthcare companies, with a focus on technology-backed solutions in diagnostics, SaaS, and tech-enabled services.
As CND continues to expand its commercial footprint and research initiatives, the company is well-positioned to address one of medicine's most persistent challenges: the early and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions worldwide.
