Cytena, a medtech spin-out of Freiburg University, has raised €1.1m ($1.25m) to support the development of its cell separation device.
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) led a consortium of private investors in the seed round, which will be used to launch Cytena’s device, cy-clone, and duel its marketing activities.
André Gross, technical director of Cytena, said: “Currently, we are in particularly close contact with cell line development units in the pharmaceutical industry e. g. for biologicals and with researchers in the field of single-cell analyses. Obviously, efficiency and cell viability are key, but quite often these customers also need to fulfil the requirements set by regulatory bodies such as the FDA. Our competitors’ systems are complex and expensive, and cannot prove clonality or safeguard against cross-contamination. In addition, a substantial amount of training is required to operate them. Users wanting to avoid all of these complications and inconveniences should use our unique technology.”
Sebastian Schöfer, investment manager at HTGF, added: “The global market potential for single-cell technologies is estimated to top EUR 360 million. Moving forward, cytena will focus on further developing the platform technology for cancer and prenatal testing units as well as units for the production of cell therapeutic drugs. These areas of application will unlock a much larger market.”
