En Carta Diagnostics Raises $5.4M for At-Home Lyme and STI Tests

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En Carta Diagnostics raises $5.4M to bring lab-accurate, at-home molecular tests for Lyme disease and STIs to market. FDA Breakthrough Device designation and a $14M partnership fuel their mission.

En Carta Diagnostics, a Paris-based DeepTech startup, just hit a major milestone. They've announced the first closing of $5.4 million in financing to bring their next-gen molecular diagnostics to your home. This isn't just another funding round; it's a leap toward making lab-grade testing as easy as a pregnancy test. Here's the breakdown of that cash: $3.2 million in equity, led by Blue Forest Ventures, with help from Ring Capital and existing backers like CentraleSupelec Venture, 50 Partners Health, and a group of angels. On top of that, they snagged $2.2 million in non-dilutive financing from Bpifrance and other partners. And this follows a $1.6 million pre-Seed round they closed back in May 2024. ### What's the Big Idea? You know how annoying it is to wait days for lab results? En Carta wants to change that. Their platform combines the accuracy of a lab PCR test with the simplicity of a rapid test you can use at home. No more trips to the clinic or waiting for a callback. The result comes in about 30 minutes. "This first closing brings us closer to our mission of transforming access to testing," said Guillaume Horreard, co-founder and CEO. "By enabling patients to perform reliable molecular tests wherever they are, we can support earlier diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and help relieve pressure on healthcare systems." ### Tackling Lyme Disease First Lyme disease is a big deal. It's the most common tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere, with roughly 1.2 million cases each year. And it's getting worse. The CDC reports cases are climbing at an alarming 22.5% per year. That's a lot of people waiting for answers. En Carta's first product targets early Lyme detection. It uses aptamers—think of them as tiny, programmable magnets that bind to specific targets. This tech, backed by over a decade of research, can be tuned to spot genetic, pathogenic, or even veterinary markers. So it's not just for Lyme; it's a platform that can adapt to all kinds of tests. ### From Lab to Living Room The company has already hit some impressive milestones. They've completed first-in-human studies and are running clinical trials in Boston and Bialystock, Poland. In January 2026, they scored FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, which fast-tracks their path to the U.S. market. They've also inked a $14 million commercial partnership with AAZ, a French company that specializes in self-tests. The goal? Bring rapid molecular tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea to Europe, with millions of units committed over the next five years. ### What's Next? With this fresh capital, En Carta plans to push through regulatory certifications in both Europe and the U.S. They're also gearing up for scale. "From FDA Breakthrough Designation to a $14 million commercial partnership, and now $5.4 million in financing, we're delivering," said Horreard. "Our next milestone is getting our two products into the hands of patients and clinicians across Europe and the US." It's a bold vision, but the pieces are falling into place. Imagine a world where you can test for Lyme or STIs from your couch, get results in half an hour, and skip the waiting room. That's the future En Carta is building—one cassette at a time. ### The Bottom Line En Carta Diagnostics is proving that at-home molecular testing isn't just a dream. With solid funding, regulatory wins, and a clear path to market, they're on track to make a real difference. Keep an eye on this space; it's about to get a lot more personal.