Procyrion Secures $57.7M Series E Financing to Advance Aortix Catheter-Deployed Heart Pump for Cardiorenal Syndrome

Text | Li Nana

Procyrion is a clinical medical device company headquartered in Texas, USA, dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with cardiac and renal dysfunction.

On February 5, Procyrion announced the completion of a $57.7 million Series E financing round, including the conversion of $10 million in interim financing. This round was led by Fannin Partners, with participation from other existing investors, Bluebird Ventures, and an undisclosed strategic investor. The funds will be used to support the ongoing DRAIN-HF pivotal IDE trial, which evaluates the application of the Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) device in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients who remain congested after receiving standard medical therapy (cardiorenal syndrome or CRS). Additionally, the funds will support internal initiatives to enhance the manufacturability of the product and prepare for commercialization.

Procyrion is dedicated to developing the Aortix cardiac pump, the first outpatient-specific catheter-deployed intra-aortic blood pumping system. Utilizing a catheter-deployed pump technology capable of utilizing fluid traction for pumping blood, it addresses unmet needs in various critical diseases. The device aims to reduce cardiac afterload (the pressure load encountered by the left and right ventricles after myocardial contraction, corresponding to aortic pressure and pulmonary artery pressure, respectively), pump blood flow within the aorta, and accelerate the flow to peripheral organs such as the kidneys. This improves blood flow to vital organs on one hand, while reducing the pressure impedance faced by the heart after contraction on the other, allowing the heart to rest and heal. Currently, Aortix is limited to investigational use only and has not been approved for sale in any region.

CRS Patients Exhibit Resistance to Standard-of-Care Intravenous Diuretic Therapy and Experience a Vicious Cycle Where Underlying Heart Failure Reduces Blood Flow to the Kidneys, Leading to Decreased Efficiency in the Kidneys' Ability to Remove Excess Fluid from the Body, Thereby Further Straining the Heart. Aortix, by Utilizing a Catheter-Based Pump Implanted in the Descending Thoracic Aorta, Directly Enhances Renal Perfusion While Reducing Cardiac Load and Improving Cardiac Performance. Its Innovative Design Leverages Fluid Entrainment to Pump Blood Without Valves, Delivering Therapeutic Benefits Through Natural Physiological Mechanisms. In the Aortix CRS Trial Study Published in JACC: Heart Failure, Patients Treated with the Aortix Pump for 30 Days Showed Rapid Decongestion, Significant Removal of Excess Fluid, Hemodynamic Improvement, and Marked Enhancement in Renal Function, Cardiac Function, and Patient-Reported Dyspnea Assessment.

Among millions of hospitalized ADHF patients, about 25% fail to respond successfully to standard therapies. Currently, there is still a lack of effective treatment options, leading to extremely poor outcomes. Aortix therapy is highly suitable for treating CRS patients. Eric S. Fain, M.D., President and CEO of Procyrion, stated: "Aortix has the potential to bring truly breakthrough progress in breaking the vicious cycle of CRS and improving the prognosis of these heart failure patients who currently have no effective treatment options and are the most challenging to manage."

Editor | Hai Ruo Jing