HUNTINGTON, N.Y., Jan. 15, 2025 — Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is excited to announce the preliminary results from its recently completed Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of SJP-002C, a novel therapeutic for the treatment of Upper Respiratory Infections such as COVID-19.

Key Highlights of the Trial Results:

• Safety: SJP-002C demonstrated an exceptional safety profile, with no adverse events reported during the trial period, highlighting its potential as a safe therapeutic option for COVID-19.
• Efficacy: The therapeutic significantly improved symptom reduction during the critical early stages of treatment, particularly on days 1 and 2.

What These Results Mean

These findings reinforce SJP-002C’s promise as a groundbreaking therapeutic for COVID-19 and Upper Respiratory Infections, demonstrating both safety and early efficacy. While further studies are needed to validate its statistical and clinical significance, the trial results encourage continued development and exploration of the therapeutic’s broader potential.

“The strong safety profile and early symptom improvements are promising indicators of SJP-002C’s potential to make a meaningful impact in COVID-19 care,” said Jackie Iversen RPh MS, Chief Clinical Officer and Co-Founder, Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical. “We are energized by these results and remain committed to refining the efficacy of this therapeutic to serve a broader population.”

Next Steps

Sen-Jam is actively reviewing additional clinical data to deepen its understanding of SJP-002C’s performance and efficacy. The company is also exploring opportunities for follow-up studies that could expand the scope of the therapeutic’s application to broader patient populations and conditions.

Join Us at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical’s leadership team is attending the prestigious JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco this week. The company invites partners, investors, and stakeholders to connect, learn more about its innovative pipeline, and explore partnership opportunities. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare. To learn more about Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical’s vision and mission, visit wefunder.com/senjam.

About Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical: Revolutionizing Inflammatory and Metabolic Care
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical (“Sen-Jam”) is pioneering a revolutionary approach to addressing chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders with its proprietary “Pleiotropic Anti-Inflammatory Remedies” (PAIR) technology. By working in harmony with the body’s innate immune system, Sen-Jam’s precision remedies target inflammation at its source, mitigating systemic risks associated with chronic conditions without suppressing immune responses.

As a leader in innovative healthcare, Sen-Jam is delivering treatments that enhance metabolic health, promote vitality, and extend health spans. The company is redefining how the world heals by focusing on solutions that balance cutting-edge science with the body’s natural resilience.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical
Christine Leonard
[email protected]
781-913-1902

SOURCE Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Fourteen organizations in seven countries will receive support for innovative projects focused on advancing children’s health, ranging from improved treatments to sweeping public health initiatives

NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 — The Deerfield Foundation, a philanthropic affiliate of New York City-based healthcare investment firm Deerfield Management, today announced the awarding of $1.5 million in support for 14 not-for-profit organizations in seven countries to improve the health of children and their families in 2025.

“At the Deerfield Foundation, we’ve been dedicated for nearly 20 years to funding initiatives that drive positive change in health, innovation and equity – especially for children and the communities where they live,” said Mark Veich, Board Member of the Deerfield Foundation. “Through our targeted grants, we support organizations working to create breakthrough therapies, expand access to care, and strengthen public health efforts, all with the goal of improving lives at the individual and community level.”

Since its establishment as a private, not-for-profit entity in 2005, the Deerfield Foundation has awarded more than $50 million to over 125 organizations. The Foundation administers grants in support of a key pillar of Deerfield Management’s mission: to advance healthcare through investment, information, and philanthropy. Its funding is supported not only by Deerfield profits but also by the continued generosity of Deerfield employees, who contribute to the Foundation’s effort to create lasting improvements in health and well-being across communities.

Organizations selected by the Deerfield Foundation will receive one-year grants to support initiatives focused on pediatric and adolescent health beginning in January 2025. This year, a volunteer program committee of 30 Deerfield employees reviewed funding proposals based on their potential to achieve direct, measurable impact, as well as opportunities for Deerfield employees to engage in meaningful collaboration with grantees. In alignment with the Foundation’s commitment to fostering partnerships, all grantees are invited to submit proposals by Deerfield employees, as the Foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Of the 2025 grantees, eight are based in the United States and an additional six are global organizations. The 2025 grantees are:

Augmenting the impact of its annual grants, the Deerfield Foundation and Deerfield Management established the Advancium Health Network in 2022. This public charity is committed to removing barriers to healthcare advancement and aims to be a leading force in health technology and innovation, focusing on areas of urgent need. Additionally, in June 2023, the Deerfield Foundation introduced a research award created in memory of longtime Deerfield Partner, Peter Steelman. The American Society of Hematology Peter Steelman Scholar Award supports research into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a form of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.

About the Deerfield Foundation
An affiliate of Deerfield Management, the Deerfield Foundation is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization whose mission is to strive to improve health, accelerate innovation, and promote human equity. Since its inception in 2005, the Foundation has formed numerous partnerships and invested in the advancement of children’s health from clinics in the South Bronx to Nepal. Funds are provided through employee contributions and directly from Deerfield’s profits.

Deerfield contact:

Julianna Santamaria

[email protected]

Phone: (212) 583 – 8324

SOURCE Deerfield Management Company, L.P.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 15, 2025 — Visby Medical^™, a leading innovator in rapid PCR diagnostics, has secured an additional $3.9 million from the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) to accelerate its fight against antibiotic resistance. This funding builds on a $1.2 million grant awarded in December 2023 and propels Visby’s development of groundbreaking diagnostic tools that pinpoint resistance-conferring mutations in infections, starting with ciprofloxacin susceptibility.

The additional funding will advance Visby’s pioneering work funded by CARB-X, which has demonstrated its preliminary ability to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) from urine and vaginal swabs and distinguish ciprofloxacin-susceptible strains. Next, Visby will continue development toward integrating these capabilities into its Visby Medical Sexual Health Test, which detects chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. The company is also developing a digital companion app and AI-driven tools to make result interpretation seamless, while working on cost-cutting innovations for its platform.

Ciprofloxacin is a former frontline antibiotic that has been sidelined due to widespread resistance. With Visby’s rapid test, doctors could determine if this convenient, inexpensive oral antibiotic is effective and reserve ceftriaxone—currently the only antibiotic that remains effective against resistant gonorrhea—for truly resistant cases.

“Antibiotic resistance is a critical concern across all of healthcare, and especially in sexually transmitted infections for which numbers continue to rise,” explained Gary Schoolnik, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Visby Medical. “Particularly for N. gonorrhoeae, which is a poster child for acquiring resistance, unlocking the treatment potential of ciprofloxacin could mean the difference between extending the lifetime of ceftriaxone either for decades, or only a handful of years.”

About Visby Medical
Founded in 2012, Visby Medical is transforming the order of diagnosis and treatment for infectious diseases so clinicians can test, talk with, and treat the patient in a single visit. The Company developed a proprietary technology platform that is the world’s first instrument-free, single-use PCR platform that fits in the palm of your hand and rapidly tests for serious infections. Their commercialized point-of-care tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and respiratory infections (COVID-19 and the flu) deliver true PCR results in under 30 minutes. For more information, visit www.visby.com. Follow Visby Medical on LinkedIn.

CARB-X funding for this research is supported by federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; under agreement number 75A50122C00028, and by awards from Wellcome (WT224842), Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the UK Department of Health and Social Care as part of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). The content of this press release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views CARB-X or its funders.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Visby Medical

AI for Architectural Planning that allows users to effortlessly generate layout plans and visualizations to further accelerate global adoption; users generate over 400 million square feet in record time

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 15, 2025 — qbiq, the largest and one of the first AI companies focused on automating architectural planning, today announced the closing of a $16 million Series A round led by global software investor Insight Partners. The round included participation from JLL Spark, 10D, Ocean Azul, Random Forest and M-Fund.

qbiq’s software enables non-architects and architect users alike to immediately plan, visualize and optimize any given space. With a simple input of requirements – from seat count to finish materials – qbiq’s AI generates a complete design package including optimized floor plans, 3D visualizations, architectural programs, quantity estimates, Revit/CAD models and more. qbiq transforms complex design processes into easy-to-use solutions that can dramatically accelerate decision-making and transactions for brokers, landlords, tenants, architects, general contractors, and co-working chains.

The investment will drive qbiq’s mission to standardize automated architectural capabilities in commercial real estate, making architectural planning faster, accessible, and more efficient for non-designers and designers alike.

A New Era of Automated Architectural Capabilities

Since launch, qbiq’s customers have created over 400 million square feet of architectural layouts and visualizations in hours, replacing weeks or even months of manual work to accelerate decision-making and reduce deal cycles. The customer base has grown more than tenfold and qbiq continues to see increasing demand.

“When we officially launched in 2023, I discussed reaching 100 million square feet delivered to clients as a KPI. This was thought by many to be unrealistic. By 2024 we had already quadrupled that goal and are now speeding towards the 1 billion square foot mark,” says Leeor Solnik, qbiq’s CEO & Co-Founder. “Joining forces with Insight Partners is a big milestone for qbiq, enabling the acceleration of our global expansion and paving our way towards a real industry transformation.”

Liad Agmon, Managing Director at Insight Partners, led the investment in qbiq and will join the company’s board of directors.

“When I was CEO, we would have at least one major office move per year across our global offices. Understanding whether a vacant space would be optimal for our needs was a tedious and lengthy process that would often take weeks and involve back and forth between our team, landlords, and our architects. I was impressed by how elegantly qbiq solves this problem, saving valuable time and money to all parties involved.” said Agmon. “With qbiq, we’re witnessing a game-changing shift—helping define a new era of automated architectural planning.”

Ending the decades-long dependency on manual architectural workflows

qbiq tackles one of real estate’s biggest pain points: the inefficiency of traditional architectural planning, which leads to delays and prolonged deal cycles.

For decades, creating layouts involved slow, manual work using tools like AutoCAD, with architects solving complex design problems line by line. Even after completing a layout, interpreting it can be challenging—especially for those without a design background. Creating clarity through visuals, such as rendered tours and images, is a costly, months-long process, making it impractical for most deals and projects.

qbiq has created one of the first Architectural AI platforms that allows brokers, landlords, architects, general contractors, and tenants to easily envision the full potential of any space in minutes, while considering basic or complex requirements. Customers such as Brookfield Properties, JLL, Skanska and IWG are able to easily create a wide range of architectural outputs for any space in minutes. These outputs include architectural programs, programmatic or conceptual layouts, high-resolution rendered tours and images, quantity takeoffs CAD/Revit models and more.

About qbiq

qbiq leverages generative AI to automate and democratize architectural planning at any scale. With qbiq, tenants make highly informed decisions, brokers close deals and projects faster, landlords increase ROI from reduced vacancies due to shorter deal cycles and architects can boost their planning capacity. Founded in 2019 by Leeor Solnik, Elad Kaminer, Noam Diamantstein and Roey Granot. qbiq is headquartered in Tel Aviv, with offices in New York and Miami. To date, qbiq has delivered over 400 million square feet of plans, transforming real estate transactions for hundreds of clients globally.

For more information, visit qbiq.ai.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of June 30, 2024, the firm has over $80B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

SOURCE qbiq

“Our unique form factor allowed us to collect the largest dataset on cervical fluid changes, enabling us to develop the first comprehensive vaginal health platform to provide women with unique unparalleled insights into intimate health and fertility,” said Kristina Cahojova, Founder & CEO of Lady Technologies. Initially Cahojova created kegg in response to a dearth of solutions for women: “I was shocked that women were being asked to determine changes in cervical mucus using their fingers. I set out to build a technology-driven product, to change the status quo and to enable every woman to have total agency over her own body.”   

With this round of capital, Lady Technologies will invest in its proprietary technology, research and development on cervical mucus and adjacent vaginal health markers. Alongside these developments, Lady Technologies will expand applications for women from trying to conceive, to postpartum, contraception and beyond. By taking a personalized, data-driven approach, Lady Technologies is revolutionizing women’s health by surfacing vaginal health information that has long been overlooked. Cervical mucus is a known biomarker for fertility, but the applications to support women beyond conception are vast including non-hormonal birth control and infections.

“We are incredibly excited to have assembled a world-class Board of Directors at the intersection of consumer, technology and health,” said Cahojova. Lady Technologies’ Board of Directors is chaired by veteran investor, CEO of Relentless Consumer Partners, and prior CEO of TB12, John Burns. He is joined by Tara McRae, SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy for North America at Puma, Michael Horvath, founder and prior CEO of Strava, and Lady Technologies CEO and COO, Kristina Cahojova and Sylvia Kuyel.

“We believe women’s health is at an inflection point. Lady Technologies has demonstrated product-market fit in its core trying-to-conceive market and there is tremendous potential for other applications of the technology,” said John Burns, CEO at Relentless Consumer Partners. “Consumer wellness is rapidly evolving, and we think Lady Technologies’ bold approach to women’s health has the potential to drive outsized success.” “There is a gap in the market for companies built for women-first, and there is tremendous potential for Lady Technologies to drive community and lifetime engagement for women with the health platform we are building,” said Michael Horvath, founder and prior CEO of Strava.

To learn more about Lady Technologies and kegg, go to ladytechnologies.com.

About Lady Technologies

Lady Technologies is changing the status quo for women, families and society by enabling every woman to access total agency over her health. Lady Technologies’ first product, kegg, is a fertility tracker and pelvic floor trainer that analyzes vaginal data by measuring changes in cervical mucus to identify women’s full fertile windows. kegg’s proprietary vaginal health platform provides women with actionable insights that support her on her personal health journey. To date, kegg has supported 50,000 women and families on their trying-to-conceive journey.

Relentless Consumer Partners

Relentless acquires and invests in high-potential consumer brands, taking an active role in driving outsized shareholder returns.  We have a relentless devotion to supporting entrepreneurs as they push the boundaries between passion and obsession, and we are fanatical about elevating products, services, and experiences that empower people to live better lives.  For two decades we have partnered with extraordinary founders and teams to build brands that are redefining consumer experience across health, wellness, consumer healthcare, sports and fitness. 

For more information visit www.relentlessconsumer.com

SOURCE Lady Technologies

CHICAGO, Jan. 14, 2025 — hostU, a sublet marketplace for university students, announced that it closed its second fundraising round. The round was led by a significant single-family office based in Atlanta. The round also included Edwin Marcial’s Thirteen Castles, which led hostU’s initial financing round, as well as Ryan Kalil, Mark Wassersug, Pat Breen, and Phillip Hight. 

“I’m humbled by the support of an all-star team of investors with experience across technology, data, brand building, marketing, law, and real estate, to help create the leading marketplace for student sublets,” said Bella Le Sage, Founder and CEO of hostU. “When we started thinking about capital partners, we realized we had a unique opportunity to bring the world’s foremost experts around the table. Having access to Mark Wassersug’s extensive experience as the COO and CIO of Intercontinental Exchange, along with Ryan Kalil’s talent for creating engaging content at Mortal Media, are just a couple of examples of why we’re so excited about the incredible partners joining us to achieve hostU’s mission of enabling student mobility.”

The financing will enable hostU to expand into key markets nationwide, develop a robust AI-driven data engine, and enhance its technology platform. Edwin Marcial, founding Chief Technology Officer of the Intercontinental Exchange and architect of the hostU platform, remarked, “We are thrilled with hostU’s progress and remain committed to enhancing the platform to provide students with a safe, secure way to monetize underutilized leases and find affordable housing. Empowering students to pursue opportunities like internships or studying abroad inspires our team to build a product that is not only secure but also delivers a seamless user experience.”

About hostU

hostU (www.joinhostU.com) facilitates simple, safe and secure sublets within the university community. hostU’s matching algorithm pairs guests with hosts based on preferences and needs, notifying them of potential matches. For more information you can reach hostU at [email protected].

SOURCE hostU

The company will use the funds to accelerate growth and achieve higher volume production of its revolutionary medium-duty platform

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2025 — Harbinger, a leading medium-duty electric vehicle (EV) company, today announced it has raised $100 million in Series B funds. Harbinger will use the funds to substantially accelerate its growth by deploying higher volume production capacity to meet demand for its purpose-built electric platform. Harbinger will also use the funds to expand its sales, parts and service operations for nationwide deployment. The funding round was co-led by Capricorn‘s Technology Impact Fund, a part of the prominent venture capital firm with $10 billion under management and investments in leading electrification companies, and Leitmotif, a new U.S. venture capital firm anchored by European industrial interests. The Series B round includes a significant additional investment from leading investment firm Tiger Global and continued support from other return investors including The Coca-Cola System Sustainability Fund, managed by Greycroft; ArcTern Ventures, a prominent climate tech investment firm; THOR Industries and its investment partner TechNexus; as well as continuing investments by Ridgeline, Maniv Mobility, Ironspring Ventures, Schematic Ventures, and Overture Climate. 

“Harbinger has demonstrated a remarkable ability to reach significant milestones far quicker than other EV companies,” said Dipender Saluja, Managing Partner of Capricorn Investment Group’s Technology Impact Fund. “The market has been impressed by their ability to develop large portions of the vehicle in-house to drive down unit costs, while remaining capital efficient.”

Harbinger’s ability to secure substantial capital, particularly in a challenging economic environment, is a reflection of the company’s track record, investor confidence, and large unmet demand for its core product. Milestones include:

• An order book of 4690 vehicle orders, valued at approximately $500 million, from notable customers including:
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA, the U.S. business of Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company, and producer of iconic brands including Sara Lee Bread®, Thomas’®, Entenmann’s® and more.
  • THOR Industries, the world’s largest recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer known for its family of companies which include Airstream, Jayco, Tiffin, Thor Motor Coach and others.
• THOR and Harbinger recently unveiled the world’s first Class A hybrid motorhome. Built on a Harbinger hybrid platform with a range of up to 500 miles, this RV is praised for driving like a car.
• To date, the company has raised $200 million since its inception in 2021.
• Harbinger has closed two up-rounds during an extended down-market period, including its successful $73 million Series A funding round that closed in 2023.
• Harbinger has assembled an impressive management and technical team that hails from Tesla, Rivian, Ford, Anduril, SpaceX, Toyota, Honda, Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, and more.

Harbinger continues to scale rapidly while consistently hitting projected milestones. The Series B funds will position Harbinger to:

• Ramp to higher-volume production capacity through initial start of production and beyond to meet extraordinary customer demand for the company’s products
• Advance the build-out of the company’s distribution, customer support and service operations
• Invest in new product lines and continued technology development, particularly around ADAS technologies and complementary products such as the company’s recently announced hybrid RV chassis and future cab chassis.

Among other things, the funds give Harbinger the flexibility to invest in long-term, higher-volume supplier tooling, a key component to improving cost of goods sold and keeping vehicle prices low for customers. The funds will also be invested into marketing and sales activities, as the company continues to build out a robust dealer-supported sales and service network.

“Harbinger is leading the medium-duty trucking industry toward electrification, and customers have responded with strong and growing interest,” said Jens Wiese, Managing Partner, Leitmotif; and former Head of Group M&A, Investment Advisory and Partnerships at Volkswagen AG. “Our objective is to support companies making strides toward decarbonization and that have the potential to become category-defining players in their respective industries. Harbinger’s versatile electric or serial-hybrid chassis can serve nearly every use case in the medium-duty vehicle segment. It’s an ideal fit that will accelerate the trucking industry’s shift to an electric world.”

“Harbinger is entering a rapid growth phase where we are focused on scaling production of our customer-ready platform,” said John Harris, Co-founder and CEO, Harbinger. “These funds catalyze significant revenue generation. We’ve developed a vehicle for a segment that is ripe for electrification, and there is a strong product market fit that will help fuel our upward trajectory through 2025 and beyond.”

One of the strong key drivers of customer interest is that Harbinger offers a superior EV product at price parity with traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles after federal government tax incentives. The company achieves this largely through its vertically integrated approach to building its proprietary EV stripped chassis. This first-of-its-kind electric chassis is designed for medium-duty vehicles, such as walk-in vans, box trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), delivery vans, emergency and disaster response vehicles and more. The stripped chassis includes all major vehicle systems, which Harbinger designs and assembles in-house. This approach allows the company to maintain tight controls on the quality of its product while keeping costs low and delivering a higher-performing, safer and more durable solution than electric vehicle retrofits on existing combustion engine platforms. Harbinger’s pragmatic approach to EV development and commercialization are central to the company’s success.

About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies designed specifically for commercial and specialty vehicles, Harbinger is bringing a first-of-its-kind EV platform to market, priced at acquisition parity to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. Harbinger: familiar form, revolutionary foundation.

To learn more about Harbinger, please visit www.harbingermotors.com. You can find the company press kit HERE.

About Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund
The Technology Impact Fund (TIF) is a venture capital partnership that invests in companies developing and scaling novel engineering-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. TIF’s investment process is grounded in comprehensive perspectives on long-term, global trends in technology, transportation, power, storage, efficiency, semiconductors, aerospace, sensors, earth data and analytics. TIF is an early investor in iconic companies including Tesla, Joby Aviation, SpaceX, QuantumScape, Redwood Materials, Planet Labs, Saildrone, Nuvia and Innovium.

Capricorn Investment Group is an investment firm founded to demonstrate that it is possible to invest profitably while driving sustainable positive change. Capricorn manages about $10B in assets for investors who strive for extraordinary investment results by leveraging market forces to accelerate large scale impact.

Learn more at www.capricornllc.com

About Leitmotif
Leitmotif is an independent venture capital firm anchored by a $300 million commitment from European industrial interests. With investors in Palo Alto and Munich, it actively bridges the innovation ecosystems of the US and Europe. Leitmoitf’s first fund focuses on decarbonization and leans later stage.

Learn more at www.leitmotif.vc

Harbinger Media Contact
Stacy Morris
Futurista Communications
310-415-9188
[email protected] 

SOURCE Harbinger

FIZE Medical is a commercial-stage company, solidifying its position as a pioneer in smart fluid management technology by expanding its geographical reach to the U.S., EU, and Asian markets. The company is also advancing its technological development and is set to soon launch AI-based predictive capabilities that will serve as a Decision Support System (DSS) by means of advanced data analysis. The market for AI-based technologies in critical care is currently estimated at approximately $12 billion annually.

Superior Technology

Managing the hemodynamic status of critically ill patients is a major challenge for intensive care teams, as inaccurate diagnosis leading to misguided treatment can lead to severe complications and is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units. In the United States alone, over 4 million patients are hospitalized annually in intensive care units, with more than one-third experiencing circulatory shock, which carries a mortality rate of approximately 40%.

Additionally, around 50% of ICU patients develop AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) during hospitalization, resulting in mortality rates exceeding 20%. Early detection of AKI and Shock may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

The company’s technology meets these challenges with digital, continuous and real-time monitoring of kidney output. The data is streamed, minute by minute in real-time to a bedside device and the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR), providing proactive never before available, accurate data of changes in kidney function to the medical team, alerting them to important events when they are determined by the FIZE kUO “smart” device. By helping medical teams adjust therapies promptly, FIZE Medical’s groundbreaking innovation simplifies clinical decision-making , enables improved patient outcomes, aims to reduce mortality, and alleviates the workload on healthcare professionals.

Commercial Momentum

The company saw an impressive surge in demand in 2024, driving rapid development and operational growth. Sima Faifman Kuchersky, FIZE Medical’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted: “In response to the growing demand across both domestic and international markets, we have strategically expanded our production capabilities—strengthening internal operations while leveraging our partnership with Cicor facilities in Vietnam to ensure scalability and efficiency.”

A-4 Funding Round

Over the next year, FIZE Medical plans to expand its platform to include advanced AI-driven patient condition predictions, intra-abdominal pressure measurement, and additional features aimed at enhancing patient care.

The Series A-4 financing was led by Rapha Capital Management, founded by its President, Kevin Slawin, M.D., a successful and experienced urologist, domain experts on the “best practice” for maintaining kidney health and Foley catheter management, oncologic and robotic surgeon, who is now focusing now on advancing disruptive healthcare technologies. 

Joining this round is Valitas Venture Capital, known for its innovative approach to go-to-market strategies in the healthcare sector. Valitas Co-Founder and former Medtronic executive Tal Shnider will join FIZE Medical’s board as an observer, bringing valuable expertise in MedTech and commercialization.

Also participating in the round is eHealth Ventures, a strategic investor that provides access to global distribution channels, connections with key opinion leaders (KOLs), and a robust commercial network. Yair Hadar, representing eHealth Ventures, will join FIZE Medical’s board as an observer. eHealth Ventures’ involvement will play a critical role in accelerating FIZE Medical’s expansion into the U.S. market while reinforcing its leadership in smart fluid management technology.

Dror Zerem, CEO of FIZE Medical, commented:
“We are thrilled to have Rapha Capital as the lead investor in this funding round, reaffirming their commitment to our mission. This funding, alongside support from Valitas Venture Capital, eHealth Ventures, and our existing investors, will enable us to accelerate our expansion into the U.S. and EU healthcare markets. With our innovative fluid management solutions, we look forward to positively impacting more hospitals and patients globally.”

FIZE Medical Mission

FIZE-kUO® strives to empower clinicians with real-time, actionable data at their fingertips, enabling next-generation, AI-powered fluid management. The company consistently pushes the boundaries of fluid management technology, revolutionizing patient care and improving medical efficiencies worldwide.

To learn more please visit fizemedical.com

About Rapha Capital Management, LLC

Rapha Capital Management, LLC is an investment advisory firm focused on making strategic investments in early stage, non-public biotechnology companies, through special purpose, joint venture entities (SPVs), which it manages.  Rapha Capital was founded by its President, Kevin Slawin, M.D., a successful and experienced urologist, oncologic and robotic surgeon focusing now on disruptive healthcare technologies. Previously, he was the founder of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the very first CAR-T cell company, which he took public in 2014 with a $55 million crossover Series C and a successful $161 million IPO in December 2014. 

After leaving Bellicum, he founded Rapha Capital Management, LLC (https://raphacap.com), which offers alternative asset management services to Rapha’s fifteen SPVs, Rapha Capital Investment I to XV, LLC, as well as to its private equity fund, Rapha Capital PE Life Sciences Fund VI, which is the current vehicle for all investments managed by Rapha Capital Management.

For more information about Rapha Capital Management, email [email protected] or visit https://raphacap.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2596701/FIZEMedical_Robotictechnology.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2596700/FIZEMedical_FIZEkUOdevice.jpg

Contact:
Eran Blankenstein
[email protected]

SOURCE FIZE Medical

TORONTO, Jan. 14, 2025 – Enhanced Medical Nutrition, Inc. (EMN), a food-as-medicine company that commercializes novel, evidence-based medical nutrition products to improve outcomes in surgery, announced today a USD $5 million over-subscribed Series A financing round led by dsm-firmenich Venturing and the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. with participation from PeakBridge, Elder Ventures, angel investors and existing shareholders.

The funds will be allocated to scale the company’s expansion of ENROUTE^®, an innovative nutrition program designed for the dietary management of surgery. By addressing the importance of nutritional requirements for patients undergoing surgical procedures, EMN is dedicated to pioneering a new standard of care where nutrition technology is leveraged to reduce risk, accelerate recovery, and enhance overall patient outcomes.

“Nutrition is widely recognized as a critical factor in improving surgical outcomes, yet there remains a significant gap in solutions tailored specifically to patient’s needs,” said Eric Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of EMN. “This inflection point is a complete team effort and will enable us to accelerate our mission and vision of supporting surgeons and their care teams and positively influencing patients. We’re thrilled to partner with dsm-firmenich Venturing, the CVC arm of Ajinomoto, PeakBridge, and all our investors as we expand ENROUTE^® across North America.”

“We believe EMN is positioned to significantly impact the standard of care in surgery,” said Arpesh Mehta, Investment Director at dsm-firmenich Venturing. “The company’s dedication to scientific validation and patient-centric innovation aligns with our vision of leveraging functional ingredients and empowering market-ready solutions that improve human health. This financing marks an exciting step for the company, as they expand their reach and deliver value to a growing market.”

“As an amino acid technology company, Ajinomoto has a strong interest in the impact of nutritional supplementation for surgical patients, from prehabilitation to rehabilitation to healthy aging,” said Shunji Takehana, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ajinomoto Innovation Strategy and Corporate Venture Capital. “This investment in EMN is a starting point of a strategic partnership and a continuation of Ajinomoto’s investment in medical nutrition. We look forward to helping Eric and his team scale their impact as they transform surgical care and improve patient outcomes.”

“This investment reflects PeakBridge’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the food-as-medicine space,” said Gali Artzi, Chief Technology Officer at PeakBridge. “EMN’s approach brings an essential and timely innovation to an underserved market, one that will significantly improve patient outcomes and drive meaningful progress in healthcare nutrition.”

About Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN)

EMN is a transformative food-as-medicine company with a mission to improve outcomes in surgery with nutrition. The company develops medical nutrition products to help patients prepare better and recover faster. Based in Toronto, Ontario and Chicago, Illinois, the company’s flagship product, ENROUTE^®, is designed to address the unique nutritional requirements of patients undergoing surgery, reducing risk, accelerating recovery outcomes, and improving patient experience. EMN is redefining how nutrition can be integrated within healthcare.

About ENROUTE^®

ENROUTE^® is a proprietary, evidence-based nutrition program designed for the dietary management of surgery. ENROUTE^® is implemented as part of innovative surgical protocols focused on patient optimization. These surgical protocols leverage ENROUTE^® to reduce risk, accelerate recovery, and enhance overall patient outcomes. Unlike the current standard of care, which overlooks nutrition, ENROUTE^® is tailored to address surgery patients’ unique metabolic and physiological demands. ENROUTE^® works by providing targeted nutrients and addressing deficiencies to support the body’s healing processes, including muscle mass, tissue repair, and immune function. Administered pre-and post-operatively, ENROUTE^® is a convenient solution that seamlessly integrates into surgical protocols, enabling healthcare providers to incorporate medical nutrition for their patients.

ENROUTE^® was developed through extensive research and testing, leveraging patented technology licensed from university inventors. It is supported by clinical evidence and aligns with the highest safety and efficacy standards. ENROUTE^® is indicated for adult patients preparing for surgery, with a current focus on orthopedic surgery populations. Visit www.getenroute.com for complete product information, including detailed clinical data and usage guidelines.

Food-as-medicine is the new frontier in healthcare, with innovative and emerging treatment options. Medical foods, functional foods, and tailored meals offer patients a means to proactively prevent and treat health conditions.

SOURCE Enhanced Medical Nutrition