Start Up to Commercialise Pioneering Ablation Treatment

Medical device company Ablatus Therapeutics Ltd, has been founded to develop and commercialise a novel tissue ablation technology to treat the most challenging and often inoperable, solid cancer tumours. Spun-out of Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) with support from Health Enterprise East (HEE), investment totalling £500K comes from Anglia Capital Group, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. It will support technology development towards CE-marking and human study trials at the NNUH.

Tissue ablation destroys cells such as a tumour, in situ, by passing radiofrequency waves through a needle-like probe; however the technique can be limited in terms of the size and location of tumours which can be treated.

Ablatus Therapeutics is leveraging a novel technology called Bimodal Electric Tissue Ablation (BETA), which utilises a combination of AC and DC power to reduce damage created by charring and thereby increases the size of the zone which can be treated compared to other technologies.

Company Chief Executive David Brooks, commented: “BETA has the potential to treat tumours previously considered too large for ablation therapy. Ablatus Therapeutics will be using the investment from this ACG-led round to progress the development of BETA towards the market, ultimately with a view to improving patient outcomes."

Dr Anne Blackwood, CEO at HEE, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in the early stage funding and commercialisation of such an exciting technology especially as it shows every potential to revolutionise how certain cancers are treated. HEE is looking forward to continuing its support as Ablatus Therapeutics develops as a company and brings BETA closer to helping patients.”

Professor Marcus Flather, Director of Research and Development at the NNUH added: “This new technology has been created and developed through lab-based studies, by innovative NNUH staff. The funding offers the opportunity to further develop the technology, making sure it is both safe and effective in treating certain cancers and ultimately improving outcomes for patients.”