Intvanel secures tens of millions in Pre-A funding to accelerate urology device trials and commercialization

Shanghai Intvanel Medical Technology Co., Ltd. ("Intvanel") recently completed a Series Pre-A funding round raising tens of millions of Chinese yuan. This round was exclusively invested by Cui Capital. Following its angel round led by Seashell Capital, this new funding represents continued recognition from the capital market.

The proceeds will primarily accelerate the clinical trials and commercialization of Intvanel's existing energy-based therapy products, while also enabling the company to further expand its R&D and industrialization efforts for innovative urology products.

Intvanel's first energy-based therapeutic product is set to obtain market approval and launch soon in China, marking the commencement of the company's commercial operations. Concurrently, the company has established a comprehensive strategic presence in the urological medical device sector, progressively building a diverse product portfolio. This includes a series of products for the diagnosis, treatment, infection control, and drug-device combination therapies of urological diseases. Among these, the minimally invasive vapor thermal ablation system (VTAS) stands as one of its flagship products.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological condition among middle-aged and elderly men, with prevalence increasing progressively with age. Data indicate that approximately 60% of men over 60 years old are affected by BPH, and the incidence rises to 80%-90% among men aged 70 to 80. With the intensification of population aging and the wider adoption of screening methods, the prevalence of BPH is expected to continue growing.

Typical symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, urgency, and intermittent urine flow; thinning of the urine stream, incontinence, and dysuria; as well as nocturia, dribbling, and pain during urination. In severe cases, more serious complications may arise, such as acute urinary retention, hematuria, renal impairment, urinary stones, and urinary tract infections. For instance, many patients experience significantly increased nocturia, needing to wake up multiple times at night to urinate, which severely disrupts sleep and leads to poor daytime mental state, substantially impacting work and daily life.

Current treatment options for BPH primarily include pharmacological therapy and conventional interventional surgeries, such as electrocautery resection and laser enucleation. While these approaches are relatively effective, they are associated with significant complications such as sexual dysfunction, risks related to implants, intraoperative bleeding, and prolonged operation time. Moreover, most of these procedures require general anesthesia. Consequently, many relatively younger patients opt to endure the symptoms due to concerns about complications, while some older patients have no choice but to tolerate the distress of BPH due to their overall physical condition.

Intvanel's innovative Vapor Thermal Ablation System (VTAS) is a minimally invasive therapeutic system designed to achieve tissue volume reduction without resection. The system incorporates proprietary patented technology for steam generation and precise control, enabling accurate delivery of thermal energy to target tissues and ensuring outstanding safety and efficacy. Building upon this precise thermal control, the VTAS system also features self-developed algorithms and AI-assisted functions, which are expected to allow surgeons to adjust the ablation zone size per needle application according to clinical needs. This capability supports diverse clinical requirements and enables more personalized treatment.

The VTAS system utilizes a proprietary high-power, high-speed response radiofrequency power source and drive control software, ensuring superior system performance and laying the foundation for expanding the steam-based technology to more indications. Additionally, the product offers unique and effective solutions to key clinical challenges such as puncture drive mechanisms, puncture position detection, and steam outlet clogging prevention.

These features of VTAS enable relatively younger BPH patients to pursue treatment with greater confidence, while making the procedure more accessible for older patients.

Regarding this funding round, Mr. Long Pengcheng, Founder of Intvanel, stated: "We extend our special appreciation to Cui Capital for their recognition and trust. This investment will accelerate Intvanel's clinical advancement and commercialization process, enabling us to establish a complete commercial cycle encompassing 'R&D-production-sales' and propel the company into its next development phase. Intvanel remains committed to innovation-driven development and cost-effective solutions, delivering novel and affordable treatment options for patients. Vapor thermal ablation represents an emerging therapeutic approach with numerous unique technical advantages, poised to evolve into a widely adopted new technical discipline. Intvanel will continue to deepen its expertise in this specialized field, striving to maintain a leading position."

Dr. Ning Chenxi of Cui Capital commented: "We have been deeply impressed by Intvanel's robust R&D capabilities and strategic commercialization approach. Leveraging profound technological expertise, the team has not only efficiently advanced product development and registration but also demonstrated remarkable openness in pursuing flexible business collaborations. They have progressively established an effective commercial portfolio strategy—an exceptional quality particularly rare among technology-driven enterprises. We are honored to partner with Intvanel and look forward to witnessing how the company's continued exploration of innovative development models will bring fresh perspectives and inspiration to the market."