Japanese biotechnology company Craif has raised approximately $33 million in Series D financing to advance its artificial intelligence platform for early cancer detection. The round comprised $30.7 million in equity and $3.3 million in debt, led by Granite-Integral and Tauns Co. with participation from Unreasonable and X&KSK. Institutional and individual investors from Japan, Singapore and the United States also joined, bringing Craif’s total capital raised since its 2018 founding to roughly $88 million.
Craif develops AI tools that analyse microRNA from urine samples. Its flagship miSignal platform provides non-invasive cancer testing designed to identify disease signals before symptoms become severe. The company will use the new funding to strengthen research and development in the United States, prepare for a reimbursement-driven launch of its cancer test, and pursue a Japanese regulatory filing for a software-based medical device.
The programme initially targets pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Craif reports that miSignal is already available through more than 2,500 medical institutions and 4,500 pharmacies across Japan, with over 110,000 tests performed to date. The company has published more than 90 peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations and established partnerships with 30 medical institutions across 15 US states.
Craif opened a bio-AI laboratory in San Diego in April 2026 to support a prospective clinical study for pancreatic cancer. Co-founder and chief executive Ryuichi Onose relocated to San Diego to lead US operations, reflecting the importance of the American Healthcare market. The company has also appointed Nicholas Bevins as chief medical officer. Bevins holds medical and scientific qualifications from Columbia University and the University of California, San Diego, has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers and abstracts, and is a board-certified clinical pathologist with experience across biotechnology and diagnostics companies.
Pancreatic cancer remains difficult to detect early, typically requiring imaging, blood tests and tissue sampling. Craif believes urine could provide a simpler route for identifying early disease signals through its combination of proprietary biomarker detection and artificial intelligence. The clinical study will help generate evidence needed for regulatory and reimbursement requirements in the United States.
Beyond pancreatic cancer, Craif is developing a broader urine analysis platform for multiple diseases. The technology focuses on microRNA, which can provide biological signals linked to various conditions, and aims to combine these signals with AI to improve early detection across disease areas. The company intends to build one of the world’s largest urine datasets for disease analysis, with cancer serving as the first step in that wider strategy.
The financing provides additional resources for regulatory preparation and US market expansion. Craif now faces the challenge of translating its Japanese commercial experience into clinical adoption in America, where success will depend on clinical evidence, regulatory progress and reimbursement pathways.
