TORONTO – A “silent epidemic” all but “ignored” by medical technology developers. That’s how Carlo Perez, founder and CEO of Swift Medical Inc., described the hesitancy of the industry to directly tackle chronic wound care through development of more advanced medical imaging and diagnostic systems. Undaunted, U.S. and Canadian investors have raised $35 million in series B funding to advance development and uptake of Swift Medical’s own AI-powered, digital wound care platform.
Microport Scientific Corp.’s cardiac rhythm disorders subsidiary, Microport Cardiac Rhythm Management Ltd. (Microport CRM), has confirmed agreements for a series C financing that would net it total investment proceeds of $150 million. Hillhouse Capital Group and Microport will co-lead the series C investment with investments of $20 million and $47 million, respectively.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEX) has taken the first step towards allowing listings on the market via special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), also known as “blank check” companies. The move has left biotech companies wondering if the change could provide the next big opportunity to join the market after pre-revenue companies were first allowed to list there under a 2018 main board listing rule paved the path for them to do so.
Pepgen Inc., a company developing new therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) from its Enhanced Delivery Oligonucleotide platform, has closed an oversubscribed $112.5 million crossover financing. Funds from the round will be used to advance the DMD and DM1 candidates to the clinic in 2022 and 2023, respectively, as well as to expand its Boston-based team. The latest round follows Pepgen’s $45 million series A, led by RA Capital and announced in December 2020.
LONDON – Birmingham University spinout 4D Biomaterials Ltd. has raised initial funding of £1.6 million (US$2.2 million) to commercialize a new shape-changing biopolymer for use in soft tissue repair.
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