Virtual Incision – the developer of the world’s first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system – recently announced a $30 million extension to its previous $46 million Series C financing. This funding round was led by current investors Bluestem Capital, Endeavour Vision, Baird Capital, cultivate(MD) Capital Funds, PrairieGold Venture Partners, and new health-tech investors Arboretum Ventures and InVivium Capital.
Along with the extension, Virtual Incision has appointed Tom Shehab, MD, managing partner from Arboretum Ventures, as a member of its board of directors, and Amy Kobe, general partner from InVivium Capital, as a board observer.
The $30 million extension will support the company’s operations well into 2025 as it seeks to transform the industry with miniaturized RAS (miniRAS). And miniRAS aims to deliver the capabilities of traditional RAS systems through a form factor small enough to fit in a surgical tray. The compact, capable, and convenient design is uniquely positioned to expand RAS to the millions of patients who do not have access to the technology.
This funding comes on the heels of a series of significant milestones toward commercial readiness of the MIRA Surgical System. And Virtual Incision completed an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study for MIRA’s use in bowel resection and announced that its De Novo request is under substantive review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year. If granted marketing authorization, then the company plans to initiate a limited launch of MIRA across select U.S. centers.
Virtual Incision is focused on advancing patient access to RAS – especially in routine and high-volume procedures, many of which are performed in outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers. And the funding will be used to support this mission through a gynecologic clinical study planned for 2024. The company will also continue developing a smaller iteration of the minibot to enable additional general surgery applications with a first-in-human clinical study expected next year.
For the near term, Virtual Incision will support a collaboration between NASA and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to lay the foundation for performing telesurgery in space. And a modified version of MIRA will board the International Space Station to perform simulated surgical tasks from a microwave-sized locker, a feat made possible by RAS’ capabilities in miniaturized form.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re grateful for our investors – both existing and new – and are excited to build an even stronger medtech syndicate with the additions of Arboretum and InVivium. This financing, particularly in the current fundraising environment, is a significant affirmation of the promise Virtual Incision offers to both patients and shareholders.”
— John Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Virtual Incision
“We are excited to invest in the Series C extension from our fund, Arboretum Ventures VI ($268 million fund). Consistent with our previous funds, we partner with transformational organizations at the intersection of healthcare and technology to improve patient outcomes. Virtual Incision’s long-standing investor support is a signal of the company’s commitment to doing just that. The company’s recent milestones demonstrate that the momentum of miniRAS is only going to continue to build, and we’re excited to be on board.”
— Dr. Tom Shehab
