Coloplast A/S agreed to acquire wound care company Kerecis Ehf for up to $1.3 billion in a bid to strengthen its presence in the high-growth, U.S.-centric biologics segment. Kerecis has developed a technology which uses intact fish skin from Atlantic cod to treat chronic wounds. It has around 5% share of the U.S. biologics market.
Med-tech companies raised a total of $1.7 billion in financings in June, a decrease of 21.64% compared to the same month last year. Volume of med-tech financings are also down: 30 in June 2023 compared to 41 in June 2022. Numbers are down significantly from the 56 financings worth $4.45 billion in June 2021, 76 financings worth $5.27 billion in June 2020, and 47 worth $2.08 billion in June 2019.
Thirona BV has been awarded $2.73 million in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to fast-track the development of its artificial intelligence (AI)-based lung platform to analyze chest CT imaging. In competition with 554 other submissions, Thirona was one of 51 innovative technology companies awarded the EIC accelerator program grant, the total budget for which is €261 million (US$286.28 million) in 2023.
Astek Diagnostics Inc. has wound up a successful $2 million early stage VC funding round to support the development and launch of a medical device designed for the speedy recovery of patients suffering from urinary tract infections (UTI). The Baltimore-based startup has designed a benchtop analyzer and disposable cartridge called the Jiddu that can detect bacterial infection in urine in one hour.
Adicon Holdings Ltd. raised HK$409 million (US$52 million) in an initial public offering on the Hong Kong stock market. Its shares opened at HK$12.32, jumped 12% and closed at HK$13.8 on the first trading day. Hangzhou, China-based Adicon is among the top three independent clinical laboratory (ICL) service providers in China by total revenues. It offers testing services to hospitals and health check centres through a network of 33 self-operated laboratories across China.
The €5.5 million (US$6 million) Escala Medical Ltd. recently received from the European Innovation Council will help the company expand its operations as it looks to officially launch its Apyx device in the U.S. later this year, CEO and founder Edit Goldberg told BioWorld. Already FDA-cleared, Apyx offers incision-free pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment to the women suffering from the often painful and debilitating condition.
Sinotau Pharmaceutical Group raised ¥1.1 billion (US$152 million) in a financing round to develop its radiopharmaceutical drugs for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.