Japanese medical startup Sound Wave Innovation has raised approximately $17 million (2.65 billion yen) in Series C financing to advance its ultrasound-based therapy for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The funding will support the completion of the company’s pivotal clinical trial, which is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The financing round was led by Singapore-based venture capital firm iGlobe Partners and included participation from existing investors such as Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Tokyo-based investment firm Fiducia, alongside other domestic and international venture capital firms, medical companies, and individual investors.
Sound Wave Innovation is developing a minimally invasive therapeutic platform built around Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) technology. Its flagship device, known as LIPUS-Brain, is designed to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s disease using transcranial ultrasound stimulation. The company said the treatment aims to improve microvascular function and stimulate regenerative mechanisms in the brain without requiring surgery or anesthesia.
The company was founded by Professor Hiroaki Shimokawa, Emeritus Professor at Tohoku University. Previous exploratory clinical studies completed in 2022 demonstrated a strong safety profile and suggested potential efficacy for patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Based on those results, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare designated the LIPUS-Brain system as the country’s first “Breakthrough Medical Device” for Alzheimer’s treatment in 2022.
The company has also formed a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Heavy Industries to manufacture and commercialize the device. Under the partnership, Sumitomo Heavy Industries will oversee manufacturing and distribution, while Sound Wave Innovation will continue to lead clinical development and intellectual property licensing efforts. The companies are targeting regulatory approval following completion of the confirmatory trial.
Sound Wave Innovation’s approach is part of a broader effort within the medical community to explore ultrasound and focused sound wave therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers have increasingly studied ultrasound-based approaches to improve drug delivery to the brain and potentially stimulate tissue regeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s.
