Nanordica Medical Raises €1.6M for Innovative Antibiotic-Free Wound Treatment

Estonian medtech company Nanordica Medical has announced the completion of a €1.6 million funding round. This capital injection is earmarked to support the market launch of a new wound dressing designed for chronic wound management, aiming to accelerate healing without the need for antibiotics. This development represents a significant step forward in wound care, offering a potential solution to a global health challenge.

The investment round was led by the Estonian fund 2C Ventures, with participation from existing investors, including Specialist VC, Superangel, Amalfi, the Health Founders syndicate led by Erki Mölder, and the EstBAN syndicate, headed by Heidi Kakko and Martin Goroško. These funds will enable Nanordica Medical to proceed with the final stages of development and commercialization for its patented technology.

The Global Challenge of Chronic Wounds and Antimicrobial Resistance

Globally, approximately 100 million people live with chronic wounds that fail to heal. Of these, over half develop infections, often leading to severe complications such as sepsis, amputations, and, in some cases, death. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a leading cause of infections and lower limb amputations among chronic wounds, with a devastating impact: it is estimated that every 20 seconds, a person with diabetes undergoes an amputation.

DFUs are often referred to as a "silent killer," with five-year mortality rates and treatment costs comparable to certain forms of cancer. Currently, guidelines for treating infected DFU wounds recommend the use of systemic antibiotics. However, these drugs often fail to reach sufficient concentrations at the wound site, and their use is increasingly restricted due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, one of the major healthcare challenges of our decade. Existing antibacterial dressings, on the other hand, are not widely recommended due to a lack of robust clinical evidence, and many typically contain high concentrations of antibacterial agents that can damage healthy cells, delaying healing.

Premotiv: An Innovative Solution with Clinical Evidence

Nanordica Medical addresses this complex problem with its patented Premotiv technology. This solution is designed to prevent infections and, at the same time, actively promote wound healing. The uniqueness of Premotiv lies in its ability to overcome the traditional trade-off between antimicrobial activity and skin-cell safety, allowing for faster wound healing and making it suitable for both already infected wounds and those at risk of infection.

The initial clinical results are promising. In a randomized controlled trial involving 30 patients with diabetic foot ulcers, Nanordica's Premotiv dressing demonstrated a 43% reduction in wound area after just one week of treatment. This compares to a 13% reduction observed with standard silver dressings. The results of this pilot study were recently published in the Journal of Wound Care, a scientific journal in the field.

Future Prospects and Market Impact

In addition to the already published pilot study, Nanordica Medical is currently conducting a multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, also on patients with diabetic foot ulcers. With over 120 patients already enrolled, it is one of the largest studies of its kind. The company expects this study to generate strong clinical evidence, crucial for obtaining reimbursement, future treatment guideline recommendations, and broader clinical adoption of Nanordica's technology.

Martin Koppel, Founder Partner of 2C Ventures, emphasized the importance of Nanordica's innovation: "Antimicrobial resistance is one of the defining healthcare challenges of this decade, and most wound care products are making it worse. Nanordica has built a clinically proven alternative that doesn't rely on antibiotics, doesn't compromise healing, and leaves a significantly smaller environmental footprint." The company has already successfully launched its first veterinary product, Ravimus Vet, in 2023, distributed in six countries. The human product will be released after obtaining CE marking. Nanordica has also recently been granted a European patent, strengthening its market defensibility and supporting the expansion of its product portfolio. These developments, including the ongoing clinical trial, were also supported by a €2.4 million European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator grant. Olesja Bondarenko, CEO and co-founder of Nanordica Medical, concluded: "This financing round will enable us to complete a large randomized clinical study, strengthening the economic case for Premotiv and finalize CE marking for commercial launch in Europe. Our clinical data suggest that Premotiv helps wounds heal faster by managing infection without compromising the natural healing process. Faster healing has the potential to reduce complications, lower treatment costs and improve outcomes for patients with chronic wounds."