Medical device innovator Combat Medical has secured £2.6 million in the first close of its Series A round, an important step in advancing a treatment designed for patients with difficult-to-treat bladder cancer. The investment round was led by the T&J Meyer Family Foundation, with participation from Varia Ventures, NW Angel Fund, and several non-institutional investors, including family offices and private individuals.
The funding will help accelerate clinical development of the company’s hyperthermic chemotherapy platform, particularly for individuals whose disease no longer responds to conventional therapies. It will primarily support late-stage clinical trials and regulatory preparations as Combat works toward expanding access to its treatment globally.
Targeting a major unmet need in bladder cancer
Combat Medical is directing the new funding toward its HIVEC HEAT trial, a pivotal phase 3 study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of its hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy system for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
Patients with this form of bladder cancer face limited options once the commonly used Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) therapy stops working. In many cases, the next step is radical cystectomy, a major surgical procedure that removes the bladder and significantly impacts quality of life.
Combat’s HIVEC treatment aims to provide a less invasive alternative. By generating phase 3 clinical data through the ongoing trial, the company hopes to demonstrate that its approach is safe, effective and tolerable, potentially establishing a new standard of care for this challenging condition.
The science behind heated chemotherapy
At the core of Combat Medical’s approach is a patented hyperthermic drug-delivery platform designed to enhance the performance of conventional cancer drugs.
The system works by heating the chemotherapy to an optimal temperature before delivering it directly to the target area, which can improve the treatment’s penetration into tumour tissue. Research suggests that administering chemotherapy at controlled, elevated temperatures may increase therapeutic efficacy while maintaining patient tolerability.
Combat’s technology enables continuous circulation of heated medication, ensuring a stable temperature throughout the treatment process. This method not only aims to boost clinical effectiveness but also simplifies treatment delivery for healthcare providers while keeping costs manageable.
Expanding a platform already used worldwide
Although still progressing through key clinical milestones in the United States, Combat’s technology is far from experimental. The company reports that more than 100,000 treatments have already been carried out across over 40 countries, highlighting widespread clinical adoption in certain regions.
The platform is supported by a substantial body of research, with more than 40 clinical studies published and additional trials underway. These investigations continue to explore the role of device-assisted hyperthermic therapies across multiple cancer types.
Led by Edward Bruce-White, Combat’s work focuses not only on bladder cancer but also on other serious diseases, including colorectal, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, where improved chemotherapy delivery could significantly influence treatment outcomes.
Building toward FDA approval and broader cancer applications
The newly raised funds will allow Combat Medical to continue progressing toward FDA registration for its HIVEC treatment while preparing the company for future growth.
Beyond the current trial, additional financing rounds are planned to expand operations, scale manufacturing capabilities and further develop the technology across multiple cancer indications. This includes strengthening programmes for advanced bladder cancer using HIVEC and peritoneal cancer using HIPEC, both built on the company’s hyperthermic drug-delivery platform.
Combat already markets two products based on this technology: Combat BRS HIVEC, used in bladder cancer treatment, and Combat PRS+ HIPEC, designed for peritoneal cancers.
As clinical research advances and regulatory milestones approach, the company aims to extend its reach, particularly into the US healthcare market, where improved treatment options for difficult cancers remain urgently needed.
Edward Bruce-White, Chief Executive Officer of Combat Medical, commented: “Our installed base of over 350 systems and the completion of over 100,000 HIVEC treatments to date demonstrates efficacy and use as a safe and well-tolerated, bladder-sparing alternative to radical cystectomy in BCG-unresponsive, high-risk NMIBC. Setting a new standard for patient care, it also provides clinicians and payers with advanced, affordable options that can easily be built into current treatment pathways. We are proud to have our investors on board as we progress through to FDA approval.”
Balint Nemeth, T&J Meyer Family Foundation, added: “Combat Medical is leading the development and clinical use of device-assisted therapies with potential to disrupt current treatment standards. With systems in wide clinical use and already impacting patient outcomes, we are excited to support the company as HIVEC progresses through clinical trials.”
