Alucent Biomedical recently announced the close of a US$35 million Series B financing round led by a large multinational strategic investor and joined by another new investor, Fresenius Medical Care Ventures. Alucent was founded by the Avera Research Institute, an arm of Avera Health, which also contributed to the financing. Including the Series B funding, the company has raised approximately US$60 million to date.
The funding will be used to support the completion of two clinical trials: the currently enrolling ACTIVATE I first-in-human trial; and the larger ACTIVATE II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company’s revolutionary Alucent Natural Vascular Scaffolding (AlucentNVS) Vessel Restoration System with Photoactivated Linking, the company’s intended commercial product.
The Alucent NVS Vessel Restoration System with Photoactivated Linking is designed to treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of the lower extremities. The system is designed to use AlucentNVS technology to open vessels and keep them open without the use of permanent implants, such as stents.
“Alucent Biomedical is a welcome addition to our portfolio,” said Al Wiegman, head of Fresenius Medical Care Ventures. “The company’s first-rate management team is developing a revolutionary technology that has the potential to dramatically improve treatment for the millions of people who suffer from PAD. We believe AlucentNVS stands to completely reshape how physicians think about treating vascular conditions.”
Pre-clinical testing of AlucentNVS in animal studies has shown acute and long-term safety and patency without the pro-inflammatory and mechanical risks of placing a rigid foreign implant into the blood vessel.
ACTIVATE I has begun enrolment and will include up to 15 subjects across up to five US research sites. The ACTIVATE II investigational device exemption (IDE) study is planned for mid-2021 for up to 100 participants at up to 15 medical centres in the USA.
“We thank all of our investors for their enthusiasm and unwavering support. The Series B funding will allow us to continue to explore the potential of AlucentNVS to improve long-term clinical outcomes and enhanced quality of life for those with vascular disease,” said Myles Greenberg, chief executive officer of Alucent.
