Fort Lauderdale startup Vigilant Biosciences has raised $5 million from investors, bringing its total amount raised to $12.5 million to date, the company said Monday.

The money will be used for commercial development of the company’s OncAlert oral cancer detection product line.

“These funds will also enable us to continue research and development of additional applications,” said founder and CEO Matthew H. J. Kim.

In May, Vigilant Biosciences made its oral rinse test available to dentists in the United States. Earlier in the month, Vigilant announced it had received European Commission approval to market its oral cancer test.

Investors in the financing round included White Owl Capital Partners in New York City, venVelo in Winter Park , and the Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research, which has offices in Boca Raton and Gainesville.

The company was founded in 2012 by Kim, who was inspired by his family history of oral and other cancers. His father died last March at age 79 after surviving with the disease for many years; his mother is a five-year survivor.

Vigilant’s technology is based on more than 15 years of research and clinical studies by Dr. Elizabeth Franzmann, a University of Miami faculty member. Franzmann is now Vigilant’s chief science officer.

Source: Sun Sentinel