Brightflow SAS, a privately owned company at the forefront in the area of long-term percutaneous mechanical circulatory assistance for the treatment of patients in the latter stages of heart failure, has managed to raise $18 million in equity Series A investment.
Brightflow’s goal is to provide a completely noninvasive long-term circulatory support system for the right ventricle (RV) to treat advanced heart failure in patients who have significant problems in the RV.
The news comes only a couple of weeks after Sophie Humbert was appointed the firm’s CEO. Humbert formerly held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Limflow, a French company specializing in the therapeutic development of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). She worked for over seven years for Limflow, a company that developed groundbreaking technology for the transcatheter arterialization of deep veins. The procedure redirects blood flow from a damaged tibial artery to a tibial vein to provide oxygen to a patient’s severely deprived foot.
There are three million people in Europe and the U.S. who have been diagnosed with RV dysfunction. The condition can occur on its own or in conjunction with left ventricular failure. RV dysfunction has a significant influence on patient outcomes, and the median survival time, which is typically between two and three years, is lowered.
Since the perioperative fatality rate might vary anywhere from 30 to 50%, mechanical surgical support is only placed on rare occasions. More people will be saved by procedures that are less intrusive and low-risk.
“This financing is testament to the strength of our technology and to our promise to create the first long-term blood pump that can be delivered safely and effectively without open-heart surgery,” said Humbert.
A few new investors who spearheaded the round are BNP Paribas Development, Majycc Innovation Sante and VIVES Partners. Some global business angels were also involved, along with regular participants Karista and GO Capital.
Philippe Durieux, managing partner at VIVES Partners, mentioned that Brightflow is supported by an exceptional founding medical team, led by skilled executives and technical experts. He further noted that the company possesses all the necessary resources to turn Brightflow’s innovative strategy into a successful product that addresses a significant, unmet medical need.
David Moreau, investment director at BNP Paribas Development, expressed pride in being part of the group of long-term investors aiming to bring Brightflow to its initial human implantations. He conveyed confidence that the excellent team, led by experienced medtech professionals Sophie Humbert and Lars Bredenbreuker, would successfully convert the percutaneous method developed by Professor Pascal Lim into a marketable product.
The money obtained from the funding will be used to support the company’s significant strategic projects until early 2026. These efforts include the finalization of product development and the first compassionate medical implants.
