HistoSonics Secures $54 Million Series C Funding to Advance Non-Invasive Robotic Therapy for Outpatient Tumor Treatment

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on April 8, U.S. local time, biotechnology company HistoSonics completed a $54 million Series C financing round. The funds from this round will be used to support the company in advancing research on novel radiation therapies and further developing non-invasive robotic diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.

It is reported that this round of financing was led by Varian Medical Systems, with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Lumira Ventures, and other investors. In addition, HistoSonics has expanded its board of directors, with Gerry Brunk, Managing Director of Lumira Ventures, joining the HistoSonics board.

HistoSonics, a biotechnology company founded in 2009, has its expert team based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Under the leadership of President and CEO Mike Blu, the company is currently developing a novel procedure called RAST, a new therapy capable of disrupting subcellular structures.

RAST is a non-invasive, machine-assisted acoustic therapy that integrates advanced robotics, imaging, and sensing technologies. RAST utilizes focused acoustic energy to generate pressure, liquefying subcellular structures and disrupting target tissues, thereby treating diseased tissues and tumor cells. This tissue-specific therapy offers high precision without causing side effects to other human tissues, reduces tissue trauma during treatment, and thus lowers healthcare costs.

The non-invasive pulsed acoustic waves provided by RAST mean that no incisions or suture marks are left on the patient, thereby alleviating the burden of scar removal for some patients. Furthermore, RAST offers real-time visual feedback through an embedded imaging array, enabling medical teams to precisely ablate target tissue. Finally, as RAST employs extracorporeal acoustic wave therapy, it is poised to facilitate simple outpatient procedures without the need for general anesthesia in the future.

Greg Sorensen, Vice President of Varian Medical Systems and a member of the HistoSonics Board of Directors, stated, “We believe that the acoustic diagnosis and treatment solutions offered by the HistoSonics platform will rapidly capture the global market and provide patients with more convenient and comprehensive services.”

Varian Medical Systems, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a global leader in the manufacture of medical devices and software. The company utilizes radiation therapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy to treat cancer and other diseases. Varian Medical Systems employs information technology to comprehensively manage internet-based cancer clinics, radiation therapy centers, and medical oncology practices. Additionally, the company is a major supplier of X-ray imaging technologies for medical, scientific, and industrial applications, providing X-ray imaging products for tissue screening and medical examinations.

Lumira Ventures is a venture capital firm primarily investing in life sciences companies in North America. Over the past five years, Lumira Ventures has helped establish more than 50 companies.

Johnson & Johnson Innovation is committed to integrating science into the healthcare industry, covering areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, consumer health products, and pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson Innovation focuses on advancing new frontiers in healthcare by primarily investing in early-stage startups, while also providing partners with opportunities to access international markets.

(Compiled by Liu Yujing)