The liver, often called the body’s detox CEO, quietly manages vital functions-filtering blood, detoxifying chemicals, producing bile, and storing nutrients. Yet, liver health in India is under threat. Recent studies show India contributed to 18.3% of the world’s liver disease-related deaths in 2015, and the numbers are rising. Poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, alcohol use, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol are fueling this crisis, especially among young adults in metro cities.
A staggering 35% of adults under 45 show signs of fatty liver. Even more worrying, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 65.7% of adults and 12.4% of non-obese children in India. While NAFLD can be reversed with lifestyle changes, other liver issues like hepatitis and cirrhosis quietly progress-often leading to liver cancer.
The Silent Threat of Liver Cancer
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is aggressive and hard to detect early. Most chronic liver diseases remain “silent” until severe, irreversible damage occurs. Traditional diagnostics-like ultrasound, CT scans, and invasive biopsies-often fail to catch cancer in its early stages. Blood markers such as AFP miss many cases, and biopsies carry risks like pain and infection.
Tvaster Genkalp: Revolutionising Early Detection
Enter Tvaster Genkalp, a Chennai-based startup founded in 2021 by Srikar Raman and K Sreedurgalakshmi. With decades of experience in biotech, gene therapy, and molecular diagnostics, the duo set out to change the liver cancer landscape in India.
Their flagship innovation, Episcreen Liver, is a non-invasive blood test that detects critical genetic and epigenetic changes linked to liver cancer. Instead of painful tissue biopsies, this test analyses DNA from a simple blood sample, making early detection accessible and affordable.
How Does Episcreen Liver Work?
- Blood is drawn from patients with chronic liver disease.
- Cell-free DNA is extracted and tested for cancer-specific methylation patterns.
- This method can identify early-stage HCC, even when traditional markers miss it.
In early trials, Episcreen Liver detected 92% of HCC cases missed by conventional AFP testing. The technology is protected by a patent for “Sequencing-Independent Compositions for Detecting Carcinomas Using Methylation Markers,” ensuring cost-effective and scalable diagnostics.
Scaling Impact Across India
Tvaster Genkalp has already served over 1,400 patients. The company operates on a B2B model, partnering with major diagnostic centres like Dr Lal PathLabs and Dr Rela Institute & Medical Centre in Chennai. Their focus is on building trust among doctors, aiming to make Episcreen Liver a first-line screening tool for hepatologists and gastroenterologists.
In April 2025, Tvaster Genkalp secured $1.25 million in Pre-Series A funding led by Ideaspring Capital. The funds will help expand the reach of Episcreen Liver across India and support further research in precision oncology.