Whole-body MRI radiology group Prenuvo raises $120M, launches new scan services

Prenuvo has raised $120 million as the whole-body MRI preventative care startup seeks to expand services in the U.S. and abroad.

San Francisco investment firm Forerunner Ventures co-led the Series B financing round alongside New York’s Left Lane Capital and others. Co-founded by radiologist Raj Attariwala, MD, PhD, in 2018, Prenuvo offers a comprehensive, $2,499 health assessment for individuals seeking to root out cancer and other concerns before they emerge. 

Leaders said Thursday the company recently earned U.S. FDA clearance for a new AI-powered, whole-body composition analysis platform. The service delivers patients their personal subcutaneous, visceral and liver fat data, along with measuring muscle and abdominal organ volumes, “providing patients with a personalized report to make informed lifestyle choices.”

As of Thursday, Prenuvo has identified over 1.4 million “personalized health insights” for its 110,000 “members.”

“Last year demonstrated an unmistakable shift in consumer behavior towards proactive health management,” said Sundeep Peechu, managing partner at Menlo Park, California-based Felicis, an existing investor taking part in the funding round. “Prenuvo has a unique integrated model that is difficult to replicate, and their advanced screening positions them to lead this transformation in preventative healthcare.”

Prenuvo also is launching a “groundbreaking” scan service that equips patients with data on brain function, cognitive health and early indicators of neurodegenerative disease. A third new offering will use a “custom built” panel of blood tests to deliver patient insights on metabolic, cardiovascular, hormonal and immune health. Prenuvo said the comprehensive “blood biomarker assessment” is designed to “work symbiotically with imaging to deepen health insights.” 

The company this month is rolling out a $3,999 bundled service called “Enhanced Screening.” Prenuvo will initially offer the 75-minute scan with add-ons at locations in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and New York City (where it will cost $4,499). Other locations—the company has 17 of them, with another 15 “coming soon”—will follow in the spring. 

Redwood City, California-based Prenuvo bills itself as the “the world’s largest private radiology group focused solely on whole-body MRI,” with additional locations forthcoming in England, Sweden and Australia. It employs a team of about 80 board-certified radiologists and has inked partnerships with academic institutions to study health and aging. “Unlike others who outsource both imaging and radiology services,” Prenuvo is “fully integrated,” owning and operating its centers. Competitor Ezra Inc., meanwhile, has inked partnerships with others who operate outpatient centers but utilize its protocols and AI tools.  

The burgeoning business model has drawn attention from investors and radiology practices alike. Others backing Prenuvo include super model Cindy Crawford, 23AndMe CEO Anne Wojcicki, Nest founder Tony Fadell, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and billionaire scientist Timothy A. Springer, PhD. Radiology groups such as SimonMed Imaging, Rayus Radiology and Longhorn Imaging have added their own whole-body MRI services in recent years.  

“Prenuvo is leading a movement to make proactive healthcare accessible and transformative for everyone,” CEO and Co-founder Andrew Lacy said in a statement Feb. 13. “We’re introducing a new approach to early detection that empowers individuals to take control of their health before symptoms emerge.”

Others in the specialty have criticized the practice of scanning healthy patients, concerned the exams could lead to additionally unnecessary tests and procedures. The American College of Radiology does not support asymptomatic whole-body imaging, noting  there is no documented evidence it is cost-efficient or prolongs life. Absent such data, Prenuvo in July initiated a 10-year clinical trial to assess its care model.