AccuLine Secures $4.2 Million to Advance Early Detection of Heart Disease

AccuLine, an Israeli healthtech startup, has successfully raised $4.2 million in a Seed funding round to further develop its innovative CORA system, which aims to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) at an early stage. The funding round was led by eHealth Ventures and Maccabi Healthcare Services, and included grants from the Israel Innovation Authority and Google AI Startups Fund. Additionally, Mayo Clinic has invested in the company and entered into a knowledge-sharing agreement to help adapt CORA for the U.S. market.

Founded in early 2022 by CEO Moshe Barel, Prof. Aharon Frimerman, Prof. Shai Revzen, and Benny Shani, AccuLine operates from its office in Petah Tikva and employs seven people. The company has now raised a total of $5.5 million to date.

The need for an effective early detection system for CAD is pressing, as heart attacks remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Existing diagnostic tools for early detection are either inaccurate, invasive, or prohibitively expensive. Common stress ECG tests often fail to provide reliable results, while more accurate procedures like cardiac CT and coronary angiography involve radiation exposure and the injection of contrast media. These procedures are not only costly but also require long waiting times and are typically performed only in hospitals. Furthermore, they are not covered by insurance unless the patient is symptomatic or considered high-risk.

AccuLine's CORA system presents a promising solution by enabling quick and easy testing in a primary care setting. The system analyzes three biological signals simultaneously—heart's electrical function, oxygen saturation, and breathing phase—within minutes. Utilizing advanced signal filtering methods combined with deep learning algorithms, CORA assesses the condition of the patient's coronary arteries, thereby aiding in early diagnosis and treatment planning.

According to Moshe Barel, the CORA test's ability to diagnose patients at early stages without the need for invasive procedures "will add value to patients, healthcare systems, doctors, and insurance organizations." He highlights the system's potential to save millions of lives annually and reduce healthcare costs significantly by preventing unnecessary tests and expensive treatments post-heart attack, including rehabilitation and medication.

The market potential for CORA is substantial, with Barel estimating the annual market size in the U.S. alone to be around $7 billion. He projects that the company’s sales could reach hundreds of millions of dollars following the product launch.

AccuLine recently completed a clinical study at seven medical centers in Israel—Ichilov, Poria, Assuta Tel Aviv, Shamir (Assaf Harofeh), Wolfson, Assuta Ashdod, and Hillel Yaffe. This study involved 300 participants who underwent coronary angiography to validate the diagnostic capability of the CORA system. In a prior clinical study with 100 participants, CORA successfully diagnosed patients with significant coronary artery disease. The company plans to conduct a third clinical study in the U.S. next year to seek FDA approval.

The advancement of the CORA system represents a significant leap forward in the non-invasive diagnosis of CAD, offering a cost-effective and accessible solution that could transform patient care. AccuLine's recent funding success underscores the confidence investors have in the potential impact of this technology on global healthcare.