Akura Medical, a Shifamed portfolio company, announced that it completed the first close of its Series C financing, raising $53 million.
Los Gatos, California-based Akura plans to use funds to support development activities for its Katana thrombectomy system and the NavIQ quantification software. It also aims to complete enrollment in its QUADRA-PE clinical trial and support regulatory submissions.
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Akura designed its Katana system with a bi-directional, low-profile sheath. It facilitates smoother navigation in complex vasculature and enables contrast injection without requiring catheter exchanges. Additionally, the system features high-velocity saline jets. The company engineered these to effectively break up clots independently of morphology and prevent catheter clogging for procedural efficiency.
Additionally, Akura designed Katana with sensors that provide real-time pulmonary artery pressure data. This offers insights into procedure progress. The system’s sentinel console displays clot engagement and blood loss to inform the physician and potentially minimize uncertainty. Akura won FDA investigational device exemption to conduct the QUADRA-PE trial in November 2024.
NavIQ, meanwhile, converts a CT angiogram into a 3D model of the pulmonary vasculature. The company designed it for use in anatomical visualization of the arteries and clots for pre-procedural planning. It also offers clot characterization data to assist physicians with treatment prioritization.
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) led the financing, while current investors also participated. Akura plans to use part of the latest raise to set up a joint venture in Qatar. The latest funding adds to a $35 million Series B raised in 2023.
“Akura Medical is advancing a differentiated portfolio of venous thrombectomy technologies aimed at improving procedural precision and patient outcomes. The recent introduction of our NavIQ quantification software represents the next step toward intelligent, data-driven thrombectomy,” said Amr Salahieh, chair and acting CEO, Akura Medical. “This new capital enables us to accelerate product development and continue building the foundation for long-term growth. We appreciate QIA’s confidence and partnership as we deliver on our vision.”
