Surgeon, CEO and founder of Hutom Corp., Woo Jin Hyung, is working to level the playing field in the operating room with artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, leveraging digital technology to optimize surgical outcomes.
Awak Technologies Pte Ltd. gained the U.S. FDA’s breakthrough designation for an artificial intelligence (AI)-based kidney disease progression prediction (KDDP) model on Nov. 27, following its $20 million fundraising that marked one of Singapore’s largest med-tech financings in 2023.
In a positive sign for its future success, Harbinger Health Inc. closed a $140 million series B fundraising round, bringing total funds raised since its founding in 2020 to $190 million. The new funds will be used to support completion of the company’s CORE-HH 10,000 participant study of its blood-based multicancer early detection (MCED) test. The company expects to complete enrollment in CORE-HH, a three-part case control, adaptive study with development, validation and longitudinal cohorts in 2024.
Quest Diagnostics Inc. evidently found what it was looking for, as it agreed to acquire Haystack Oncology Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at up to $450 million with $300 million at closing and $150 million contingent on meeting specific milestones. Haystack focuses on minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, which can detect residual or recurring cancer in its early stages and help guide therapy decisions using blood samples rather than biopsied tissue. The companies expect the transaction to close before the end of June.
Compared to recent fundraising rounds in the med-tech space, Noah Medical Inc. was veritably deluged with cash in its series B. Softbank Vision Fund and Prosperity7 Ventures led the round, which rained down $150 million on the medical robotics company. Other participants included Hillhouse, Sequoia China, Shangbay Capital, Uphonest Capital, Sunmed Capital, Lyfe Capital, 1955 Capital, AME Cloud Ventures and undisclosed strategic investors.
Neuromod Devices Ltd. will use the €30 million (US$ 32.78 million) financing it recently raised to launch its tinnitus treatment device, Lenire, in the U.S. where there are an estimated 50 million Americans suffering from tinnitus, CEO, Ross O’Neill, told BioWorld. “To get this financing closed is very exciting as we go into the U.S. market which is the biggest hearing market in the world,” he added.
Sirius Medical BV reported successfully closing a $13 million series B round to develop its tumor localization technology. This round was led by Holland Capital Management BV, with support from existing investor BOM Capital BV – through their vehicle, Brabant Ventures – along with Curie Capital BV and Team Holmium BV, plus major investment from Sirius Medical’s management and team. Norgine Ventures Management Ltd., joined as a new investor in this round.
Volta Medical SAS reported raising $39 million in a series B round to roll out its VX1 software mapping system in Europe and the U.S. This artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is compatible with most readily available multi-polar catheters and technology used in operating rooms and cath labs in the treatment of complex cardiac arrhythmia.
Suzhou Singular Medical Co. Ltd. has raised “hundreds of millions of RMB” in a series B+ round financing, which was jointly led by SDIC Chuanghe Fund Management Co. Ltd. and Qiming Venture Capital Management (Beijing) Co. Ltd.
Meccellis Biotech Group SAS reported closing an $8.25 million series B funding round to launch its biological implant technology on the US market. The exercise was supported by investment worth $5 million from Ocean Participations SAS alongside new funds from Volney Development SAS, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Co-Investissement SAS and the Poitou-Charentes business angel network Synergence Invest SAS.
