Alesi Surgical, a Cardiff-based medtech company, is poised for significant global expansion following a successful £5 million equity increase led by Mercia Ventures.
- The company specialises in technology that mitigates the hazards of surgical smoke, a growing concern in operating theatres worldwide.
- With FDA approval in the US, Alesi aims to enhance market presence and product compliance with new regulations.
- The latest funding round increases Alesi’s total capital to over £21 million, empowering further equipment integration and innovation.
- Alesi’s advancements hold promise for improving surgical environments and meeting regulatory demands across major international markets.
Alesi Surgical, a spinout from Cardiff University, has secured a highly impactful £5 million in funding, spearheaded by new investor Mercia Ventures and bolstered by ongoing support from IP Group and Panakes Partners. This fresh influx of capital elevates the company’s total fundraising achievements to an impressive £21 million. The medtech firm’s primary focus is on managing the smoke produced by surgical tools, a critical issue that diminishes visibility and camera function during operations, while also posing health risks to medical staff.
Having achieved FDA clearance in the United States, Alesi’s flagship product, the IonPencil, is acclaimed as the first of its kind to implement this advanced smoke management technology in everyday surgeries. This innovation is poised to revolutionise approximately 80% of all surgical procedures. The mounting legislative recognition of surgical smoke hazards, emphasised by its regulation in 18 states across the US, underscores the significance of Alesi’s system, which employs electrical filtration to efficiently expel harmful smoke components.
Alesi introduced the Ultravision system for laparoscopic surgeries, boasting utilisation in over 40,000 procedures, which independent studies have shown to be 23 times more effective than previous solutions. This system not only curtails smoke emissions but also diminishes viral infectivity within emitted smoke. The updated Ultravision2 platform, which gained FDA approval, offers seamless integration with surgical instruments and theatre equipment, ensuring comprehensive smoke management across all applicable operations.
The extensive potential market, with over 40 million surgical procedures annually in the US, Europe, and Japan, sets the stage for Alesi Surgical’s strategic expansion. The latest financial backing aims to strengthen the company’s sales efforts in the US while pursuing regulatory certification across Europe and Japan. Chief Executive Dominic Griffiths expressed enthusiasm over the support received, both in terms of surgeon feedback and investment, reinforcing the expectation for increased adoption of the IonPencil due to upcoming legislation.
Investor director Robert Hornby from Mercia Ventures has highlighted the momentum created by these regulatory changes, which are expected to drive significant adoption of smoke management technologies. As a company already recognised for its laparoscopic solutions, the introduction of the IonPencil is anticipated to broaden Alesi Surgical’s market reach significantly. The company’s operational base at the Cardiff Medicentre, supported by a 15-member team, is poised to leverage this funding to accentuate its growth trajectory.
Alesi Surgical’s strategic funding and technological innovations position it strongly for extensive market expansion and improved surgical safety compliance worldwide.
