Biothreat Detection Technology Developer BioFlyte Raises $1.

BioFlyte said on Tuesday that it has raised $1.25 million in seed funding, which the company said it will use to accelerate the development of its mass spectrometry-based biothreat detection device.

The round was led by venture capital firm Anzu Partners. In conjunction with the financing, Anzu Managing Partner David Seldin and Wayne Bryden, CEO of biodefense firm Zeteo Tech, have joined BioFlyte's board of directors.

BioFlyte's first product, the z750, is a handheld air sampler that is compatible with PCR, immunoassays, and fieldable mass spec instruments. The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based company is also developing an instrument, called z200, for the detection and identification of airborne opioids, microbes, and toxins in real-time.

The z200 is based on matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry technology licensed from Zeteo Tech.

"BioFlyte is commercializing some much-needed breakthrough technology for the biodefense community," Bryden said in a statement. "The z200 provides a presumptive identification in five minutes and can be quickly and inexpensively upgraded to detect new or emerging threats."