Dutch firm Enzyre which is producing a diagnostic device allowing haemophilia patients to determine their coagulation status at home has announced that it has successfully raised €12 million in a Series A financing round. The investment was led by a new investor, Oost NL, with participation from i&i Biotech Fund, Demcon Investment as a technology partner and existing investors, Takeda Ventures and Novalis Biotech. Part of the funding is an Innovation Credit from the Dutch Government.
The proceeds from the financing will enable The Netherlands-based company to develop further its unique diagnostic technology platform, EnzyPad, which will enable haemophilia patients to determine and monitor their coagulation status from home in real-time. The funds will support clinical trial registrations, the establishment of a sustainable manufacturing line and investment in expanding applications in the critical care setting.
Hemophilia EnzyCard
Enzyre’s first product, Hemophilia EnzyCard, uses the company’s proprietary EnzyPad platform technology to determine the coagulation status of patients with haemophilia. This rare genetic disorder is estimated to affect over 800,000 people worldwide. Those with haemophilia A lack sufficient blood-clotting factor VIII (FVIII) activity, causing them to bleed for longer after an injury compared to healthy subjects. Due to the complexities associated with managing the condition, patients benefit from being able to safely monitor their condition at home while potentially staying connected with their care team by telemedicine. Enzyre’s technology will enable patients to self-test in a home setting, and eventually transfer their coagulation status to their treating physician through a mobile phone app and a cloud-based application. This will allow for timely personalised therapy adjustments that may improve clinical outcomes while avoiding unnecessary travel and hospital exposure, ultimately decreasing the overall treatment burden and cost for patients and healthcare systems.
Guido Maertens, Chief Executive Officer of Enzyre, said: “We are delighted to have closed this successful financing round which validates our technology and will underpin our ongoing development as we take Enzyre forward into the next phase of growth. We value Takeda’s continued support and welcome the commitment from a strong cohort of new and existing investors. Together we look forward to improving the quality of life for patients living with bleeding disorders by driving forward our goal to transform their standard of care.”
Pieter Rhemrev, senior investment manager at Oost NL, acting as lead investor of the syndicate, commented: “We are excited to be working with Enzyre in developing a truly innovative technology that is a potential game changer in the management of Hemophilia A and other bleeding disorders. Patient outcomes and quality of life will be dramatically improved by the ability of physicians to monitor coagulation status in real-time and we see great potential for the product to enhance personalised care. We look forward to joining this talented team and our syndicate partners in supporting Enzyre’s pathway to future success.”
How does it work?
Enzyre is a spin-out of Radboud University Medical Center in The Netherlands founded by Waander van Heerde and Guido Maertens. The company aims to develop a diagnostic device to provide patients with the flexibility to assess their coagulation status regardless of where they are. Enzyre’s platform requires a small volume of blood to measure up to sixteen reactions simultaneously with high sensitivity and specificity without any laboratory infrastructure, at home, on the road or in a critical care setting.
This offers enormous benefits to patients: avoid crisis situations driven by changes in coagulation status, provide ease of mind for patients, empower patients to optimise treatment themselves, be a quick turnaround tool in the clinical setting, reduce GP consultation visits and, as a personalised diagnostic tool, offer great support in a telemedicine setting.
