Insightec Ltd. broadened its CE mark approval for the Exablate Neuro, a focused ultrasound platform which treats essential tremors, to allow patients to have their second side treated. With some 60 million people estimated to be affected by essential tremor globally, Insightec hopes that with both sides treated, patients will have full body relief from tremor and therefore be able to resume everyday activities.
In recent years, Israel has proven to be a hot spot for med-tech innovation. The country boasts more than 1,500 companies in the health care and life sciences sectors, roughly 70% in medical devices and digital health. More than a hundred new companies focused on medical technology launch each year.
Tirat Carmel, Israel-based Insightec Ltd. has inked a deal for a series F financing of up to $150 million led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), a subsidiary of Koch Industries. The round, which has a post-money valuation of $1.3 billion, is earmarked for continued study of the company’s low-intensity, focused ultrasound technology in treating certain movement disorders.
There is no FDA-approved medication for Alzheimer’s disease. But there is some hope that if the blood-brain barrier could be more easily penetrated by drug candidates they would prove more effective. That is the line of research being pursued by Israeli company Insightec Ltd. via its Exablate Neuro that provides low-intensity focused ultrasound treatment.