Paris-based HighLife SAS is a medtech company developing a treatment for patients suffering from mitral regurgitation – a serious heart condition in which blood leaks backwards through the mitral valve each time the left ventricle contracts. Left untreated, the condition can lead to arrhythmias and heart failure. HighLife has been developing a unique transcatheter mitral valve replacement system to treat the condition, which is still undergoing clinical trials.
Today, the startup announced the closing of a €32 million round of equity financing to further develop its medical device. The Series B round was co-led by US Venture Partners (USVP) and Andera Partners, with Sectoral Asset Management and Jose Calle Gordo, Chairman of the company, joining the round. Sofinnova Partners, which led the company’s Series A round, also participated.
HighLife will use the financing to complete the development of the company’s transcatheter transseptal mitral valve implantation program, which includes regulatory approval trials in Europe to obtain the CE mark and its first clinical trial in the US. The product is still undergoing investigation and trials, and not yet available on the market.
Georg Börtlein, HighLife’s CEO and founder, said: “I am very pleased to announce the closing of the Series B financing round, which is essential to funding the development program of the company. The funds will support our mid-term strategy with a pivotal trial in Europe and a clinical trial in the US. We remain committed to bringing the best treatment option for the broadest patient population to market. Over the long term, we want to address any limitation that the field of TMVR faces and we will continue working towards that goal.”
Casey Tansey, General Partner at USVP, added: “HighLife’s creative approach has already generated convincing data in this competitive field of mitral valve replacement. I am confident that the experienced management team will bring this technology to the level where it becomes an undisputed treatment option for mitral valve regurgitation patients.”
Olivier Litzka, Partner at Andera Partners, said: “With our already solid experience in the structural heart field, we are very happy to contribute to and support HighLife. The exceptional level of collective experience brought together with the existing team and the new investors is a favorable omen for HighLife’s success.”
