Key Takeaways:
– Seattle-based medical technology company, Healionics, secures $5.5 million in fresh funding.
– Keiretsu Capital led the investment round, aimed at furthering an ongoing human trial.
– Funds will also be used to seek regulatory clearance and commercialization of STARgraft, an artificial blood vessel for dialysis patients.
– Healionics aims to solve the problem of vascular access failure faced by over 550,000 U.S. kidney failure patients.
Healionics, at the Forefront of Revolutionary Dialysis Solution
Seattle-based medical technology firm, Healionics, has garnered $5.5 million in a new funding round aimed at carrying to fruition an ongoing human trial, and to press forward with regulatory clearance and subsequent commercialization of its innovative STARgraft vascular graft. Designed for kidney dialysis patients, the graft plays the crucial role of an artificial blood vessel.
Powering the Way for Innovative Dialysis Treatment
This fresh injection of funds was spearheaded by Keiretsu Capital, which had previously led a $4.7 million round in 2021. Healionics also received a respectable $3.8 million in a previous round in 2019 for its groundbreaking technology.
The company, established in 2007 and helmed by CEO Mike Connolly, has devoted years to perfecting its STARgraft vascular graft, in answer to the critical challenge of providing reliable vascular access for dialysis patients.
Addressing An Urgent Health Need
Healionics addresses a stark reality, with more than 550,000 people in the U.S. suffering from kidney failure, requiring frequent dialysis treatment to filter waste from their blood. Dialysis, often administered several times a week, necessitates physicians to maintain access to the bloodstream. Current vascular grafts, typically used for this purpose, are prone to failure due to issues such as blockage—a phenomenon known as vascular occlusion—or infection.
The Promise of the STARgraft Technology
STARgraft, built upon proprietary synthetic biomaterial technology, is geared to ward off both of these challenges. Healionics brings a unique offering to the dialysis patients’ plight in the form of STARgraft, their revolutionary solution in the realm of artificial blood vessels.
The innovation in STARgraft lies in its design to resist both common problems—blockages and potential infection, paving the way for a safer and more reliable dialysis experience for patients.
A New Chapter for Healionics
Consequently, this freshly secured funding propels Healionics to further its human trial. Beyond that, it intends to seek both regulatory clearance and subsequent commercialization of the STARgraft. As it stands, STARgraft represents not only the future prosperity of Healionics but also a potential game-changer in bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of kidney failure patients in the U.S. and beyond.
The new funding milestone positions Healionics as a key player in the healthcare tech industry, fostering a crucial breakthrough in dialysis treatment. With an increasing number of kidney failure patients requiring frequent dialysis treatments, the emergence of STARgraft symbolizes a beacon of hope for delivering quality healthcare solutions. This development underlines the crucial role healthtech startups play in driving forward better patient experiences and outcomes.