New Ultrasound Tech Gets $10M to Find Pancreatic Cancer Earlier

TORONTO, ON – May 26, 2026 – Venture capital firm iGan Partners has led a $10 million financing round for Adenocyte Ltd., an Israeli medical technology company poised to revolutionize the fight against one of oncology's most formidable foes: pancreatic cancer. The investment will accelerate the commercial rollout of Adenocyte's LINFU® system, a pioneering technology designed to detect pancreatic cancer and its precancerous precursors at their earliest, most treatable stages.

The LINFU® system, already in clinical use at several U.S. endoscopy centers, represents a significant shift in diagnostic strategy. For a disease notorious for its silent progression and late-stage diagnosis, the platform offers a new paradigm of proactive screening for high-risk individuals, potentially turning a death sentence into a manageable condition.

A New Frontier in a Decades-Old Fight

Pancreatic cancer has long been dubbed "the silent killer" for a reason. Symptoms often do not appear until the disease has advanced and spread, at which point curative treatment is rarely an option. This grim reality is reflected in its dismal survival rates, and the cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States by 2030. For decades, the medical community has grappled with the challenge of early detection.

The current standard of care relies on a combination of imaging and tissue sampling. Modalities like Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), MRI, and CT scans are the primary tools for visualizing the pancreas, while a procedure called Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is used to obtain tissue samples for a definitive diagnosis. While these methods are effective for identifying established tumors, their ability to detect the microscopic, precancerous changes or very early-stage cancers that precede a full-blown malignancy is limited. This diagnostic gap is where countless lives are lost. Adenocyte's technology aims to close that gap.

The LINFU® System: A "Pap Smear for the Pancreas"

Adenocyte's LINFU® platform introduces a novel approach that has been likened to a "Pap smear for the pancreas." The 30-minute outpatient procedure uses a patented combination of technologies to gather cellular evidence directly from the source. It begins with the intravenous injection of microbubbles, a commonly used and safe ultrasound contrast agent. Proprietary low-intensity, non-focused ultrasound is then directed at the pancreas. The ultrasound energy causes the microbubbles to oscillate, which gently and safely dislodges, or exfoliates, epithelial cells from the lining of the pancreatic ducts.

This enriched pancreatic fluid is then collected and sent for cytological analysis, where pathologists can identify cellular abnormalities, known as dysplasia, or very early carcinomas long before they would form a detectable mass on an imaging scan.

The clinical data presented to date is compelling. In a study of 90 high-risk but asymptomatic patients presented at the U.S. and Canadian Academy of Pathology Annual Meeting (USCAP), the LINFU® procedure demonstrated 100% specimen adequacy and specificity. Crucially, it identified four cases of unsuspected neoplasia, including a T1N0 adenocarcinoma—an early, node-negative cancer—that were completely invisible to other advanced modalities like EUS, MRI, and FNA. This suggests LINFU® can find cancer at a stage where surgical intervention could be curative.

Strategic Investment Fuels Commercial Expansion

The $10 million financing, led by iGan Partners, is a powerful vote of confidence in Adenocyte's technology and its potential market impact. iGan Partners, a North American venture firm with a history of backing disruptive healthcare technologies, saw a clear alignment with its mission to fund innovations that deliver practical, measurable improvements in patient care.

"Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers specifically because it is detected too late," said Sam Ifergan, Founder and Managing Partner of iGan Partners, in a statement. "Adenocyte's LINFU® platform offers a reimbursable, scalable way to find this disease earlier, when treatment can be curative, and it is already in use at leading U.S. centers. We are proud to support Mark and the Adenocyte team as they bring LINFU® to many more patients."

The capital injection will be used to scale up operations on multiple fronts. Adenocyte plans to expand its clinical and commercial footprint, bringing the technology to more hospitals and pancreatic centers across the country. A key part of this strategy is a collaboration with Quest Diagnostics, which will provide national laboratory services for processing the LINFU®-enhanced cytology samples, creating a streamlined and scalable workflow for healthcare providers.

"We are impressed by Sam Ifergan and the iGan team's understanding of and dedication to the advancement of disruptive, life-saving medical technology, and are excited about our partnership," said Dr. Mark Rutenberg, founder and CEO of Adenocyte.

From Lab to Clinic: The Path to Market Adoption

For any new medical technology, the path from the lab to widespread clinical adoption is fraught with challenges, primarily revolving around clinical validation, physician buy-in, and financial reimbursement. Adenocyte appears to have strategically addressed these hurdles. With over 150 procedures already successfully completed at U.S. centers like the Manhattan Endoscopy Center and Sarasota Memorial HealthCare System, the company is building a solid base of real-world evidence.

Perhaps most critically for its commercial prospects, the LINFU® procedure is generally reimbursed by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans under existing CPT billing codes. This removes a major financial barrier for both patients and providers, significantly smoothing the path to adoption. The technology it utilizes is also already FDA-cleared, further de-risking the regulatory landscape. With a growing pipeline of leading pancreatic centers preparing to adopt LINFU® screening, the company is positioned for significant growth in the coming year.

Beyond the Pancreas: The Future of the LINFU Platform

While tackling pancreatic cancer is the immediate and most urgent focus, Adenocyte and its investors see a broader future for the LINFU® technology. The core principle—using microbubble-enhanced ultrasound to safely collect epithelial cells for early cancer detection—is a platform that can be adapted for other types of adenocarcinomas.

The company has stated that a portion of the new funding will support continued technical development for applications in breast and prostate cancer. The vision includes using the technology to enhance the yield of cells from breast ductal lavage or to screen voided urine for early signs of prostate cancer. This potential for expansion transforms Adenocyte from a single-solution company into a platform-based enterprise, aiming to shift the diagnostic paradigm across multiple fronts in the war on cancer.