Israel’s finance ministry has increased the amount of funding high-tech companies with a short runway, including biotechs, can apply for under a fast-track scheme run by independent, publicly funded agency The Israel Innovation Authority, in response to the country’s war against Hamas. The program has been boosted by an extra ₪300 million (US$74.7 million), bringing the total budget to about ₪400 million, and from this month will assess applications from startups facing financial difficulties.
In interviews with BioWorld, med-tech industry leaders in Israel noted upfront that a hasty exit mid-conversation could occur in response to sirens alerting to missile attacks. Despite constant disruption, most companies said they were determined to maintain business as close to usual as possible. Still, challenges abound, including the potential mandatory military activation of CEO and key personnel, ongoing attacks and potential disruption or diversion of critical resources. The tenor remains positive, however, with companies praising strong support from the venture capital community and other investors and partners worldwide and the benefits of operations in the U.S.
The co-founders of Zero Candida Ltd. described, in the company’s first PCT filing, their development of a drug-free solution for treating vaginal fungal infections using an intravaginal light-based treatment device (ILTD) that projects light at predefined intervals and intensities to treat infection.
The latest patent application from Neuroderm Ltd. described a magnetic coupling and detection mechanism for its small two-part wearable infusion drug delivery device that delivers a liquid drug to Parkinson’s disease patients subcutaneously.
Israeli startup Briya Ltd. raised $11.5 million in series A financing which will support the expansion of its health care data exchange platform across Europe and the U.S. The round was led by Team8, and included existing investors Insight Partners, and Amiti Ventures, and was joined by the George Kaiser Family Foundation.
Nemaura Medical Inc. recently raised $6.5 million in non-dilutive funding through a clean debt facility with no warrants or convertible elements. The funding came from its existing lender and is expected to fund Nemaura’s ongoing efforts to commercialize its daily disposable, wearable glucose sensors.
Israeli venture capital fund, Shoni Health Ventures, launched a new fund focused on startups specializing in digital health and medical devices. Recognizing that innovative solutions with the potential to improve global health may go unrealized as health tech startups struggle to attract early-stage investors, the fund is focused on investing in companies at the pre-seed and seed-stage.
Truleaf Medical Ltd., a subsidiary of Israel-based Allmed Solutions, is ready to begin human trials of its Rosedoc platform to replace the heart’s leaky mitral valve using cardiac catheterization.
Israeli startup Synchrony Medical Ltd. is gearing up to begin a U.S. clinical trial testing an airway clearance method developed at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. The Libairty device is designed to support chronic lung disease patients to clear mucus with a short home-based daily treatment.
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