Preventative health startup Prenuvo, which offers a full-body MRI scan technology lauded by celebrities, has raised $120m in funding.
The US-based company said it closed the Series B fundraising last year, with the round co-led by Forerunner Ventures, Left Lane Capital, and existing investor Felicis. The raised $120m will go towards adding modalities and analyses to its whole-body MRI screening platform.
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In addition, Prenuvo said it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-clearance for its AI-generated Prenuvo Body Composition report. The analysis platform provides insights into fat and muscle amounts at different locations in the body. Complementing its product expansion, the company is also launching a brain health scan and blood bio-marker assessment panel to improve health insights across its customer base.
Prenuvo owns 17 centres across North America that offer integrated imaging and radiology services, providing customers with preventative medicine. The company is planning on expanding to 15 more clinics, including locations in Europe and Australia.
Prenuvo’s CEO Andrew Lacy said: “We’re introducing a new approach to early detection that empowers individuals to take control of their health before symptoms emerge. This isn’t just about healthcare; it’s about reimagining how we approach health.”
While full-body MRI scans are not new, Prenuvo was propelled into mainstream attention after being endorsed by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian on social media. The company’s full-body scan, which costs $2,500, claims to check for a multitude of diseases before symptoms appear, helping prevent illnesses.
The scan has become popular, with 110,000 members to the company’s name and $100m in revenue generated last year. However, full-body MRI scans have come under fire from some doctors and health experts who say there is not a lot of evidence to support healthy patients undergoing such a procedure. There is a likelihood of incidental detection of some types of cancers, for example, which lead to patient anxiety and overtreatment even though it would not have affected patient health.
Nevertheless, the full-body scan investment landscape is lively. Competitor Ezra announced $21m in funding in February 2024. In addition, technology startup Q Bio, a developer of a full-body scanner using an alternative MRI technology, raised $27m in July 2024.
