Vapotherm Announces $57.4 Million Public Offering to Advance Hi-VNI Non-Invasive Ventilation Technology

On August 5, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology and medical device company Vapotherm announced the issuance of 2.6 million shares, aiming to raise $57.4 million.

Vapotherm will use the funds raised to expand its scale and develop Hi-VNI non-invasive ventilation technology and other respiratory therapy devices.

It is reported that Vapotherm had previously completed 11 rounds of financing. Among these, the company closed a $45 million Series D round in May 2017 and a $20 million Series C round in July 2015.

Vapotherm, founded in 1999 and headquartered in New Hampshire, USA, is a leading medical device manufacturer. The company specializes in developing advanced respiratory therapy equipment to improve patient outcomes. Vapotherm went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018 under the ticker symbol VAPO.

Since its inception, Vapotherm has developed a series of respiratory therapy devices. In 2009, the company launched its flagship product, Precision Flow, which is equipped with an advanced electronic flow meter and an internal oxygen analyzer, making it the preferred medical device for high-flow oxygen therapy. In November 2015, Vapotherm announced the launch of the Vapotherm Q50, a new medical air compressor specifically designed to support Precision Flow in patient treatment. Additionally, the company has developed a gas mixture ratio calibration instrument for heliox therapy to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.

Vapotherm has developed Hi-VNI non-invasive ventilation technology, which heats, humidifies, and oxygenates air for the treatment of conditions such as pneumonia, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, dyspnea, asthma, and heart failure. This breakthrough technology eliminates the need for the respiratory masks required by traditional non-invasive ventilation methods, thereby simplifying the treatment process. The nasal cannula therapy enabled by Hi-VNI technology offers greater patient comfort while reducing treatment risks and complexity. Hi-VNI is a first-line technology for treating respiratory distress syndrome and is trusted by clinicians and patients alike.

Dyspnea is one of the critical emergencies in the emergency department. Clinicians have traditionally treated adult patients with respiratory distress using non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) therapy. This therapeutic approach includes high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC), endotracheal intubation, and mechanical ventilation.

HFNC is not only used in emergency departments and intensive care units; clinical studies have demonstrated its significant efficacy in treating hypoxemia. These findings led to the development of Hi-VNI technology, in which Vapotherm employs small-bore tubing to enhance pulmonary ventilation efficiency, thereby achieving the therapeutic goal of high-flow oxygen delivery. A randomized clinical trial in adult patients with respiratory failure showed that Hi-VNI therapy was non-inferior to NIPPV, making it a suitable alternative for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome.

Vapotherm executives stated, “To date, our devices have assisted 1.25 million patients with acute respiratory distress, including preterm infants and the elderly. Vapotherm will continue to move forward, enabling patients to benefit from our continually evolving innovative technologies.”

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)