Okami Medical has closed an oversubscribed $45 million financing round led by new investor Gilde Healthcare, with participation from existing backers Vensana Capital and U.S. Venture Partners. The company plans to deploy the capital to expand its commercial reach and further advance its clinical programs, aligned with its mission to improve treatment outcomes for patients with vascular disease. The funds will also bolster the ongoing innovation of Okami’s device platform for occluding peripheral vessels.
Alongside the financing, Okami named industry veteran Drew Hykes, former chief executive of Inari Medical, as its new president and chief executive officer. Bill Hoffman has been appointed chairman of the board. The leadership transition comes as the company seeks to accelerate the commercialization of its LOBO vascular occluder and expand its broader innovation pipeline.
As part of the investment, Gilde Healthcare’s Geoff Pardo and Susana Amorim have joined Okami Medical’s board of directors. Gilde Healthcare has been tracking Okami for several years and cited the strength of its technology and market potential as key drivers of its participation. The firm had previously partnered with Hykes during the growth phase at Inari, and its renewed collaboration signals strong confidence in Okami’s trajectory.
Founded by Inceptus Medical in 2017, Okami Medical develops intuitive, versatile embolization devices designed to restore patient health by stopping blood flow in targeted peripheral vessels. Gilde Healthcare, Vensana Capital, and U.S. Venture Partners each bring extensive medtech investment experience that the company expects will support its next phase of expansion.
KEY QUOTES:
“I’m honored to join the Okami team and have been deeply impressed by the clinical performance and versatility of the LOBO vascular occluder across a wide range of anatomies. I look forward to working with this talented team to accelerate our commercial expansion, advance our innovation pipeline, and bring this important technology to more physicians and patients.”
Drew Hykes, Chief Executive Officer of Okami Medical
“We have followed Okami for years and have been impressed by the strength of its technology and the scale of its market opportunity. We are pleased to partner with Drew again following our success at Inari and to collaborate with a highly experienced syndicate. We believe Okami’s LOBO platform has the potential to transform treatment and significantly improve outcomes for patients with serious unmet needs.”
Geoff Pardo, General Partner at Gilde Healthcare
