CALCiViS raises £4.5m for Development of the CALCIVIS imaging system
CALCiViS , a medical devices company focused on revolutionising the management of tooth decay and enabling preventive dentistry, today announces it has secured £4.5m in new equity and grant funding.
Existing funders, Archangel Investors and the Scottish Investment Bank, have invested a further £2.6m in the Company. CALCiViS has also secured €2.6m (£1.9m) in grant funding from the European Commission under its Horizon 2020 SME Instrument programme.
The new funding will be used to further prepare the CALCiViS imaging system for commercialisation. The device has a CE Mark in Europe and CALCiViS recently reported that a first clinical study met its primary performance endpoint relating to the CALCiViS imaging system’s ability to identify early active caries lesions. An excellent safety profile was also observed.
CALCiViS is undertaking further work to prepare for commercialisation in Europe and to gain approval to market the product in the US.
Adam Christie, CEO of CALCiViS , said: “This substantial new investment and grant funding puts the company in a very strong position as we continue to work towards commercialisation. The insight we gained from our successful clinical study has allowed us to refine the device ahead of a controlled market introduction in Europe, starting in the UK in late 2016. The new funds will also support us in our regulatory work in the US, the world’s largest dentistry market, where we see huge potential for the CALCiViS imaging system.”
Andy Laing of Archangel Investors said: “CALCiViS has made significant progress in recent years and this, and the evident potential of the technology, has given us great confidence to make a further investment in the Company. Tooth decay is a significant clinical and public health problem and CALCiViS has the potential to make a real impact on treatment and dental practice.”
Kerry Sharp, head of the Scottish Investment Bank, said: “CALCiViS is an innovative, forward-thinking business that is addressing a significant clinical and public health issue, at the heart of modern dentistry. Along with our partners, we’ve worked closely with the company over the last three years to provide an integrated package of support that includes investment from the Scottish Co-Investment Fund and innovation support. Our Enterprise Europe Network team also helped the company successfully apply for help via the SME Instrument programme. We look forward to continuing to work with the company to help realise its ambitious growth plans.”
The CALCiViS imaging system is an in-clinic device which combines a sensitive intraoral camera and application technology to deliver a precise amount of CALCiViS photoprotein, onto the tooth surface.
CALCiViS photoprotein binds calcium ions and emits a blue light signal proportional to the amount of calcium present. This exquisitely sensitive chemiluminescent system produces a ‘demineralisation’ map of the tooth enabling caries lesion activity assessment at a single patient visit and providing insight into other conditions including acid erosion.
The resulting images provide a focus for discussion with patients about their caries management programme and the development of a tailored, evidence-based treatment in line with best preventive dental practice.
