LifeCell Corp.

Brothers in arms, the new Jupiter Endovascular will work to translate Neptune Medical's flexing endoscope technology for use in minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. The gastrointestinal device and robotics developer Neptune Medical announced it has raised $97 million in venture capital funds—and that it’s launched another subsidiary into its orbit.Jupiter Endovascular aims to improve the precision and control of catheter-based therapies, starting with a focus on treating blood clots lodged within the lung.The Menlo Park, California-based startup will start out with $21 million in funding and a plan to begin a pivotal clinical trial of its Endoportal Control technology—hardware that maintains its flexibility as it snakes through the body’s blood vessels but can turn rigid and hold its position once in place for a pulmonary embolism procedure.Neptune Medical employs a similar, toggleable approach in gastrointestinal procedures, with its Pathfinder sleeve that wraps around the outside of an endoscope. The addition can become stiff to help stabilize the device to prevent loops from forming in the tube.“For decades, the field of catheter-based therapies has been limited by the technological constraints of catheters that lose stability and control within the anatomy,” said Kate Garrett, Managing Partner at Sonder Capital, which participated in the funding of both Neptune Medical and Jupiter Endovascular. “Jupiter Endovascular has developed a revolutionary approach with the potential to overcome these constraints by providing clinicians the precision and control of a surgical approach while maintaining the minimally invasive profile of an endovascular procedure,” Garrett said in a statement. “This novel approach may address a significant unmet clinical need in patients with disease residing in complex cardiovascular anatomies, such as the pulmonary arteries.”Neptune Medical’s series D round was also joined by Olympus, among other previous and first-time backers.“These significant milestones allow us to sharpen our focus on GI robotics while empowering Jupiter to drive innovation in endovascular treatments,” said founder and CEO Alex Tilson.“The spinout of Jupiter Endovascular is a strategic move that aligns with our long-term goals,” added robotic surgery pioneer Fred Moll, who was named chairman of Neptune Medical’s board in November 2023. “With dedicated resources and leadership, Jupiter is well-positioned to revolutionize endovascular therapies. Meanwhile, Neptune will continue to push the boundaries in GI robotics, delivering transformative solutions to patients and healthcare providers. We intend for both companies to lead the way in innovating within their respective specialties.”Jupiter Endovascular will be led by Carl St. Bernard, who formerly served as president and CEO of Alta Biomaterials, and previously held executive roles at CeloNova BioSciences, Tryton Medical, Johnson & Johnson Vision, LifeCell, Cordis and GE Healthcare.Neptune Medical also houses the subsidiary Triton Medical Robotics, which is developing a flexible, endoluminal surgical device for reaching deep human anatomy.

MENLO PARK, Calif.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Jupiter Endovascular, Inc., a medical technology startup developing a new class of endovascular procedures using Endoportal Control TM to bring the precision and control of direct surgical access to catheter-based interventions, announced today that it has exited stealth mode with a $21 million new round of financing. Sonder Capital was a key participant in the round that included participation from multiple strategic investors. The funding will be used to support the company’s upcoming pivotal trial for Pulmonary Embolism and development of additional clinical applications of the Endoportal Control TM technology. “For decades, the field of catheter-based therapies has been limited by the technological constraints of catheters that lose stability and control within the anatomy,” said Kate Garrett, Managing Partner at Sonder Capital. “Jupiter Endovascular has developed a revolutionary approach with the potential to overcome these constraints by providing clinicians the precision and control of a surgical approach while maintaining the minimally invasive profile of an endovascular procedure. This novel approach may address a significant unmet clinical need in patients with disease residing in complex cardiovascular anatomies, such as the pulmonary arteries.” The company has appointed Carl J. St. Bernard as Jupiter Endovascular’s Chief Executive Officer. St. Bernard, an industry veteran with a wealth of medical technology leadership experience, joins Jupiter from Alta Biomaterials, where he held the role of President and CEO. He has over 30 years of experience in the life sciences arena and has held senior executive positions at CeloNova BioSciences, Tryton Medical, Johnson & Johnson Vision, LifeCell, Cordis, and GE Healthcare. He is also an AdvaMed board director. “I am very excited to join the Jupiter Endovascular team. The Endoportal Control TM technology, which leverages Jupiter’s unique and exclusive intellectual property to create a catheter-based device that flexibly navigates through a patient’s vasculature before fixing into a stable position, is designed to give interventionalists the confidence and support they need to deliver a prescribed cardiovascular therapy. This represents a generational advance in technology with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of millions of patients worldwide,” said St. Bernard. “We are thrilled to partner with Sonder Capital and our other highly valued investors as we bring this innovation to the clinic and create the foundation for our entry into the Pulmonary Embolism market and future clinical areas where we see a compelling opportunity for Endoportal Control TM to improve the lives and well-being of patients.” "We are excited to welcome Carl St. Bernard as the CEO of Jupiter Endovascular,” said Jay Watkins, Co-Chair and Partner at Sonder Capital. “Carl brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in bringing novel technologies and therapies to market. His vision and leadership will be instrumental as the Jupiter team enters this next clinical phase. We are confident that, under Carl's guidance, Jupiter Endovascular will address a significant clinical need that has remained unmet for decades." About Jupiter Endovascular Jupiter Endovascular is a medical technology startup developing the endoportal procedure, a new class of endovascular procedures using Endoportal Control TM to bring the precision and control of direct surgical access to catheter-based interventions. The procedure uses an endoportal device that navigates flexibly through the vasculature via percutaneous access. Once in position, the endoportal device can be fixed into a stable state to deliver an interventional treatment with surgical-like precision and control from an endovascular access point. To learn more about Jupiter Endovascular, visit www.jupiterendo.com . About Sonder Capital Sonder’s team of veteran investors, innovators, founder-operators, and company builders is known not only for their individual achievements, but also for their collective success in creating, funding, and leading private and public companies that have transformed healthcare for millions of patients globally — including Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), Procept Biorobotics (NASDAQ:PRCT), Shockwave Medical, Auris Health, and Reflexion Medical, among others. Sonder’s extensive network of limited partners is global and includes industry leaders, high-net-worth individuals, and leading family offices focused on investing in game-changing healthcare technologies. Sonder Capital was co-founded in 2019 by healthcare luminaries Jay Watkins and Fred Moll, M.D.

Seoul-based medical equipment maker Samsung Medison has recently agreed to fully purchase Sonio, a foetal ultrasound AI company in France, for 126 billion won ($92 million). The four-year-old French startup has been developing IT solutions for obstetrics and gynaecology ultrasound, assisting medical professionals in documenting and evaluating ultrasound examinations. Last year, it obtained the United States FDA 510(k) clearance for Sonio Detect, which is said to be the first machine-agnostic AI assistant software that automates ultrasound reporting and provides image quality control. WHY IT MATTERS "Collaboration with Sonio will bring together best-in-class ultrasound AI technology and reporting capabilities to bring a paradigm shift in the prenatal ultrasound exam," said Samsung Medison CEO Yong Kwan Kim. With Sonio on its portfolio, Samsung Medison joins a growing list of ultrasound system providers that are now enabled by AI. In 2022, ultrasound device maker Exo also bought an ultrasound AI provider, Medo, to offer advanced imaging capabilities. Early last year, GE HealthCare acquired Caption Health, a big name in ultrasound AI. Upon completion of their transaction, Sonio will remain an independent company based in France. It will proceed with its commercial growth independently while maintaining the compatibility of its products with any ultrasound device systems. "In addition to close collaboration with Samsung Medison, as an independent company, Sonio will continue to advance medical reporting technology and diagnostic software globally, including for underserved areas in healthcare," added Sonio CEO Cécile Brosset. The closing of their transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals, including that of the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance. THE LARGER TREND Sonio first partnered with Samsung through Samsung Healthcare France in 2021. Their collaboration aimed to confirm its AI solution for pregnancy monitoring and prenatal diagnosis. Seeking further expansion across Asia, Sonio also tied up with biotechnology firm LifeCell last year to promote its AI offering in the Indian market, where about a hundred babies are born every two minutes. Meanwhile, Sonio raised $14 million in Series A funding last year for its commercial launch in the United States. The funds were also intended to support its R&D efforts and adapt its AI for portable ultrasound devices and point of care.