Autism In the News

Mount Sinai Spin-Off Company, Linus Biotechnology Inc., to Revolutionize Precision Medicine with Exposome Sequencing

Subject to regulatory approvals, the new company intends to launch its first product with StrandDx™- ASD a molecular biomarker for autism spectrum disorder that can be applied at birth, and can assist in early Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis.

The new company will develop a technology platform that will build on breakthroughs in exposome sequencing by Drs. Manish Arora, Christine Austin and Paul Curtin of the Institute for Exposomic Research at Mount Sinai.


Subject to regulatory approvals, the new company intends to launch its first product with StrandDx™- ASD a molecular biomarker for autism spectrum disorder that can be applied at birth, and can assist in early Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis.

Linus Biotechnology Inc. precision exposome medicine

Linus Biotechnology Inc. and Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP) announce an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement in progress with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Icahn Mount Sinai), the medical school of the Mount Sinai Health System. LinusBio is a novel biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing molecular exposome and biological-response sequencing for complex diseases for which genomic sequencing alone cannot sufficiently characterize underlying biological disease pathways.

The Company plans to develop a technology platform that will build on breakthroughs in exposome sequencing by Drs. Manish Arora, Christine Austin and Paul Curtin at Mount Sinai’s Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health and the Institute for Exposomic Research at Mount Sinai, which has been an NIH Center for the novel frontier science since 2019. LinusBio’s program pipeline comprises precision exposome medicine biomarkers and target discovery across disease domains for which historically no molecular endpoints have been available in clinical trials including CNS (autism spectrum disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), gastroenterology (inflammatory bowel disease), renal disease and oncology. Subject to regulatory approvals, the Company intends to launch its first product with StrandDx™- ASD a molecular biomarker for autism spectrum disorder that can be applied at birth.

Dr. Robert Wright

“This work illustrates the potential for using novel exposomic technologies as diagnostic tools that can guide patient care. These tools would be a major step in precision medicine for autism and illustrates what sets Mount Sinai apart from programs that solely focus on genetics to individualize patient care.” said Robert Wright, MD, the Chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health and Director of the Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomic Research.

Dr. Manish Arora

“Sequencing the exposome and biological response at a molecular level using our proprietary environmental biodynamics platform is furthering our understanding of disease through a completely novel approach. LinusBio’s commercial sequencing laboratory will accelerate bringing applications to patient populations with huge unmet needs,” said Manish Arora, PhD, BDS, MPH, Edith J. Baerwald Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and co-founder of the Company.

Read the full press release