Manchester University spin-out Phagenesis raises £2M

Funding

Phagenesis Ltd has raised £2 million to support the development of a new class of treatment for stroke patients who suffer from dysphagia, a common condition that prevents or impairs the safe swallowing of food and drink.

The company, recently spun out of Manchester University is headed by Daniel Green, former CEO of the Imperial College London start-up Bioceramic Therapeutics. “To raise £2 million in a few months in the current economic climate is a remarkable achievement and was made possible because the Phagenesis technology has accumulated substantial amounts of exciting data in human subjects,” Green said. “The investment will enable us to undertake design and clinical trials of a production device.”

This device will delivers electrical pulses to the throat region that can reprogramme the brain to help restore swallowing function. At least 50 per cent of stroke victims have impaired swallowing. Apart from a severe reduction in quality of life, dysphagia often leads to the inhalation of liquids and the development of pneumonia. In addition, the financial burden of dysphagia can run to thousands of pounds per patient in the first few weeks alone, and may continue indefinitely if a patient’s ability to swallow is not restored.