Investment of €13.8m made by Ship2B Ventures in Spanish medical technology company
A Barcelona-based biotech company, Aortyx, is making significant strides in the field of cardiovascular medicine with its innovative vascular patch designed to treat aortic dissection. The condition, which affects around 50,000 people in Europe alone, is often fatal and currently lacks effective treatment options.
Aortyx was founded in 2018 by researchers from the IQS School of Engineering and the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. The company has recently secured €13.8 million in Series A funding, led by Ship2B Ventures, to advance the clinical development of this life-saving technology.
The vascular patch, which is delivered via a steerable catheter, adheres firmly to the aortic wall using a bioactive adhesive. It seals the tear without extensive anchoring and mimics the aorta's mechanical properties to promote natural vessel healing. The patch is bioabsorbable and biodegradable, gradually dissolving as the aorta regenerates, leaving no permanent foreign material behind.
The device has undergone testing and received feedback from over 30 key opinion leaders, including 18 of the top 20 vascular surgeons worldwide, to refine its design. Aortyx plans to begin first-in-human clinical trials within two years to obtain FDA approval and CE marking.
If successful in clinical trials and regulatory approval, Aortyx’s approach could establish a new treatment paradigm for aortic dissection, making it a standard care option globally. The minimally invasive, precise, and regenerative approach could significantly reduce mortality and morbidity associated with aortic dissection by repairing the artery wall directly and encouraging healing.
Jordi Ferrer, investment director at Ship2B Ventures, stated that Aortyx has the potential to revolutionize cardiovascular medicine. By avoiding large incisions and permanent implants, this technology could lower surgical risks, shorten recovery times, and improve long-term outcomes for tens of thousands of patients in Europe and worldwide annually.
Ship2B Ventures made the investment through its Bsocial Impact Fund, which is backed by Banc Sabadell, the European Investment Fund, and others. Previous investments by Ship2B Ventures include mobility startup Ciclogreen, organic agricultural solutions provider Nostoc, and edtech Fiction Express, all based in Spain.
Aortyx's work on developing a new generation of medical devices capable of treating vascular diseases is a promising step towards improving the lives of millions affected by these conditions. As the company moves towards human trials, the potential impact of its vascular patch could be substantial in reducing the high mortality and complications associated with current treatment methods.
- The energy transition in the venture capital sector has seen an investment in Aortyx, a Barcelona-based biotech company that is pioneering a novel vascular patch for cardiovascular medicine, potentially impacting the health-and-wellness sector significantly.
- Development finance institutions like the European Investment Fund have recognized the potential impact of Aortyx's technology, as the company has received backing for its Series A funding, contributing to the science-driven advancement in medical-conditions treatment, particularly focusing on aortic dissection.
- Financial institutions and investors are keen on embracing Aortyx's innovative approach because it has the potential to shift the landscape in treating aortic dissection, paving the way for fitness-and-exercise routines to be less interrupted by medical-conditions, consequently promoting overall health and wellness.
- Aortyx's vascular patch, which employs bioactive adhesives and biodegradable materials, is not only a pioneering technology in cardiovascular medicine but also a step forward in the technology domain, as it combines science, medial-conditions treatments, and health-and-wellness improvements through its minimally invasive, precise, and regenerative approach.
- The energy transition in the venture capital landscape has led to an increased focus on investment opportunities that exhibit a positive social impact, such as Aortyx, whose groundbreaking work in cardiovascular medicine has the potential to decrease mortality and morbidity associated with aortic dissection, making a substantial difference in the lives of millions affected by vascular diseases globally.
