It was a good week for companies focused on minimally invasive brain surgery. Monteris Medical Corp. received $35 million in a series D equity financing and a $38 million debt facility to support market adoption and clinical research on its Neuroblate system, a laser ablation system that provides a minimally invasive option for brain surgery. Nico Corp. also raised additional funds, with a $12.5 million oversubscribed round for its devices, which do not require cutting through the brain but instead use the natural folds of the brain to reach abnormalities.
Deepull Diagnostics SL has raised €13 million (US$12.71 million) in a series B round to advance development of a PCR-based rapid diagnostic for the early diagnosis of sepsis and acute infections.
With roughly a decade of work behind it, Valitor Inc. is ready to put its Multivalent Polymer (MVP) platform to the test, having recently announced its presence with a $28 million series B round and appointment of biopharma veteran Steven Lo as CEO. The next step is IND-enabling studies for its lead ophthalmology candidate, with clinical testing slated to start in 2024.
Worg Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. raised nearly ¥400 million (US$55.6 million) in its series B financing. Founded in 2018, the company is developing immunotherapies to treat allergic and autoimmune diseases and other indications based on its two technology platforms, Pcfit and Apitope.
Odyssey Therapeutics Inc. closed a hefty $168 million series B round to progress multiple small-molecule and protein-based drug discovery and development programs in autoimmune disease and cancer.
Medical Creations Inc., dba Xtremity, raised $8.1 million in a series B3 financing round to develop a transtibial prosthetic socket, the Xtremitytt. The socket is designed to enable rapid fabrication and adjustments by using a carbon-reinforced polymer that can be shaped and reshaped in the clinic rather than require use of outside facilities.
Vergent Bioscience Inc. raised $21.5 million in a series B financing round to advance development of VGT-309, its targeted fluorescent imaging agent that illuminates tumors during open, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries. The company plans to use the funds to support a phase II trial at the University of Pennsylvania that focuses on lung cancer and a multicenter study that will examine the agent’s use in other indications.
Cerecin Inc. has successfully closed the first tranche of a series IIB financing with investors from South Korea, with SK Securities Co. Ltd. and KNT Investment LLC leading the round.
Cerecin Inc. has successfully closed the first tranche of a series IIB financing with investors from South Korea, with SK Securities Co. Ltd. and KNT Investment LLC leading the round. Proceeds from the financing, of undisclosed value, will help the company advance clinical studies of its CER-0001 (tricaprilin) in migraine and infantile spasm.