Pear Therapeutics Inc. has joined a growing number of med-tech startups that are merging with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) as a backdoor pathway to an initial public offering (IPO). On Tuesday, Pear, a company developing digital therapeutics, reported plans to combine with Thimble Point Acquisition Corp., a blank check company affiliated with the Pritzker Vlock Family Office (PVFO), in a deal valued at approximately $1.6 billion. The $400 million in gross proceeds, including roughly $276 million in cash held in Thimble’s trust account and about $125 million, at $10 per share, from an oversubscribed PIPE (private investment in public equity), will be used to further commercialize Pear’s three FDA-authorized products, advance its pipeline and scale its end-to-end platform.

Cleerly Inc. snapped up $43 million in a series B fundraising round to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced imaging to better understand heart disease and more accurately project patient outcomes. Vensana Capital led the round with participation from the American College of Cardiology, Cigna Ventures, Dititx Partners, Lrvhealth (formerly Long River Ventures), New Leaf Venture Partners and returning investors.

Paris – Cardinor AS has secured $1.44 million to commercialize development of a novel ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) blood test that uses secretoneurin as a blood-based biomarker for heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest. London-based Intuitive Investments Group plc participated in this third seed round, along with existing Belgium and German investors.

Mindup, an Israeli digital health incubator, added Phenofast Ltd. to its portfolio this week, banking on the startup’s ability to resolve a critical, ongoing problem for hospitals and community physicians treating patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Phenofast hopes to bring clarity to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and relief to patients in record time.

Fractyl Health Inc. closed $100 million in new financing Wednesday to expand and accelerate clinical development efforts to reduce dependence on insulin among type 2 diabetes patients. The startup, which changed its name from Fractyl Laboratories Inc., will use the financing to support additional late-stage clinical studies for determining the potential of its Revita DMR.