Biotechnology cluster: Biotronic announces defibrillators, SGI will help find a cure for cancer and Israeli companies are recruiting

Mitrasyst recruits an application that locates tiny hemorrhages and Jerusalem encourages biotechnology * Biotronic launches the Ilesto/Iforia7 - the only series of defibrillators/CRT-D devices in the world approved for use in MRI scans

Biotronic, a developer and manufacturer of medical devices for the heart, announced the commercial launch in Europe of the Ilesto/Iforia 7, which combines the world's smallest DF4 ICD/CRT-D, for the treatment of irregular heart activity, with a defibrillator adapted for use in MRI devices. The Ilesto/Iforia 7 series joins the Lumax 740 ICD/CRT-D line, which was launched in April 2013 and together are currently the only ICD/CRT devices in the world approved for use in MRI scans.

Today, the need for MRI scans among heart patients is increasing every year. The number of patients with implanted defibrillators also increases every year by about 15 percent and between 50 and 75 percent of these patients will have to undergo an MRI scan during their lifetime. If you add to this the increase in life expectancy, these numbers will only increase. For a long time, patients with defibrillator systems, or CRTs, were not allowed to have MRI scans because of the fear of damaging the implanted devices. The technology developed by Biotronic, ProMRI, which is integrated into the new product line, allows transplant recipients to undergo MRI scans without fear, now and in the future.

In some patients with arrhythmias, there is a mismatch between the action of the left ventricle of the heart and the right ventricle, which can significantly reduce the capacity of the heart. Patients of this type should receive a CRT system, which balances the activity of the ventricles in the heart by constantly delivering electrical currents that synchronize the entire activity. The connection between the defibrillator and the CRT pacemaker synchronizes the activity of the heart and, in addition, enables life-saving activity in times of need.

The new defibrillator has a lifespan of up to 11.5 years. The tiny size of the system, and the fact that the device is equipped with an innovative DF4 connection, simplifies and shortens the transplant procedure, it is more comfortable for the transplanted person and cosmetically the result looks better.

Mitrasist completes a fundraising round of NIS 4 million

The company MitrAssist announces the completion of a fundraising round in the amount of approximately NIS 4 million. The company is developing a unique valve, which is implanted using a minimally invasive method and is intended to treat problems arising from abnormal operation of the heart valve (MR). The current round puts the amount of capital raised by the company so far at about NIS 7 million.

Mitrasyst, which operates within the Mashgav technology incubator owned by the Trendlines Group, is developing a solution for minimally invasive treatment of abnormal heart valve activity. A malfunction in the valve usually occurs as a result of scarring of the heart tissue, which is created following a heart attack and causes deformation or due to the expansion of the left ventricle in the heart. These prevent the valve from closing completely and properly stopping the flow of blood. As a result, a leak occurs, the blood pressure in the lungs increases, pulmonary edema occurs and the patient's life is in danger. The product developed by Mithrasyst is installed on the existing valve and works with it simultaneously to improve the heart's activity and therefore can also be suitable for patients whose valve is not normal enough to undergo the only procedure offered today, open heart surgery. The valve market is one of the most dynamic markets today in the field of cardiology and is valued at approximately NIS 5.5 billion. With about a quarter of a million new patients every year in the US alone.

This week the company completed a fundraising round of approximately NIS 4 million, which is added to the initial investment made by private investors, the Trendlines Group and the greenhouse program of the company's chief scientist's office. The investors in this round are private investors and an international investment fund. Now, after proving the feasibility of the product, the company is turning to conducting a series of chronic experiments on animals, in a procedure of semi-invasive insertion.

Gil Naor, founder and CEO of Mitrasist: "The valve we have developed has a real potential to improve the lives of patients of all ages, who suffer from abnormal functioning of the heart valve. The "valve within a valve" approach is an effective, physiological and safety solution for MR patients and especially for those who are not qualified to undergo surgery to repair or replace the valve, due to the dangers involved, either because of their age or the medical condition they are in."

"The unique technology developed by Mitrasyst continues to record impressive achievements and arouses great interest in Israel and the world", notes Eran Peladhi, CEO of the Meshgav Technology Incubator. "The company has developed a very convenient and effective solution to address a problem that affects the quality of life of many people and is an excellent example of the type of companies and technologies that we, in the Trendlines Group and Meshav Hatchery, are looking for."

An application introduces a new method for diagnosing tiny hemorrhages to prevent blindness in diabetics

Application, the research and development company of the Hebrew University, presents a new method for detecting microscopic aneurysms in the blood vessels in the retina. An aneurysm is an expansion of blood vessels that may cause hemorrhage. The microscopic aneurysms present in the retina of diabetic patients may burst and cause tiny hemorrhages in the retina and eventually diabetic retinopathy, that is, irreversible damage to the retina. The new method will enable early diagnosis and treatment of the condition, and it may, therefore, minimize the damage and prevent vision loss. The technology has been patented by the application, which is now looking for suitable partners to further develop and commercialize the invention. The method will be presented at the annual conference of the Israeli Association for Advanced Industries, IATI-BioMed Israel 2013, which will be held at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv on June 10-12, 2013.

Dr. Jacob Nachmias and his group from the Center for Bioengineering at the Hebrew University developed a method for identifying blood capillaries that are at high risk of creating hemorrhages based on the calculations of the blood flow in the capillaries. The method will allow ophthalmologists to identify microscopic aneurysms that are at high risk of leaking using a system known as an adaptive optics system. The scientists found that a high risk of hemorrhages is correlated with high levels of a protein known as von Willebrand factor (vWF), which is associated with the early development of diabetic retinopathy.

Microscopic retinal aneurysms are dilations of small blood vessels in the retina, and they are an early symptom of diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The microscopic aneurysms impair vision because they eventually leak blood and fluid and cause retinal edema. Local leaks can be detected and treated with the help of a laser, thus slowing down the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

"Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness and disability throughout the Western world," said Yaakov Michlin, CEO of Apisil. "The new method developed by Dr. Nachmias will allow experts to quickly identify and treat the microscopic aneurysms that are at high risk of leakage, a treatment that will reduce the degree of edema and save vision. Furthermore, the scientists are paving the way for targeted therapy and clinical diagnosis by using the vWF protein, because they show that it serves as a marker for the dangerous areas of the retina. Early identification of high-risk areas will transform the treatment of diabetic retinopathy from a reactive treatment to a preventive treatment, which will preserve vision and at the same time save millions of dollars in medical expenses."

A grant of up to NIS 8 million to a company to support research and development infrastructure equipment for the biomed industry in Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Development Authority, through the Bio-Jerusalem project, funded by the Ministry for Jerusalem and the Diaspora, announced at the Biomed Israel 2013 conference a grant for the purchase of equipment and the establishment of necessary infrastructure for research and development in the field of biomed for companies operating in Jerusalem. The grant was given as part of the Marom Program, a multi-year plan to strengthen the economy of Jerusalem that was approved by the Israeli government in 2011, and which allocates over NIS 70 million to research and development and industry in the field of biotechnology in the capital between 2011-2016 for the purpose of strengthening Jerusalem as a biotechnological center.

With the intention of supporting the biomed industry in the capital and encouraging the creation of new jobs, the Jerusalem Development Authority is offering a precedent grant of up to NIS 8 million to the company, to support the purchase of dedicated equipment used to provide research and development services in the field of biomed, for the purpose of upgrading existing infrastructures and the development of new infrastructures (such as Beit Hayut or clean rooms for production), including personnel training. The grant is intended for service providers to the industry, including academic units, and for new biomed companies, existing companies in the city, or companies that will move their operations to Jerusalem. The grant joins a series of other programs and benefits that exist in Jerusalem that support the field of biomed in the city.

Moti Hazan, CEO of the Jerusalem Development Authority, said "Jerusalem is the only city in Israel for which there is a government policy aimed at encouraging the biomed sector. In Jerusalem there is a thriving biomed cluster, and notable advantages in the field of life sciences. The city is a powerhouse of knowledge and innovation in the life sciences and medicine that originates from its leading research institutions and an impressive biomed industry, which are based on professional human capital and unique research and development infrastructures. There is cooperation at the highest levels between the Ministry for Jerusalem and the Diaspora, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Jerusalem Development Authority, in order to leverage the comparative advantages in the city for the purpose of building a leading biomed industry, and turning Jerusalem into the biomed capital of Israel."

Chen Levin, director of Bio-Jerusalem, added, "Since the launch of the Marom program, in which we significantly increased the unique benefits for biomed companies, we have witnessed the growth of the sector in the city, which is reflected in the move of companies to Jerusalem, the expansion of existing companies and the establishment of new companies in the city. We anticipate that the new grant will be another magnet for biomed companies to Jerusalem. The grant for equipment and infrastructure will assist in the establishment of unique infrastructures for research and development in Jerusalem that will serve the entire biomed industry in Israel. We encourage established and young biomed companies, service providers to industry and entrepreneurs in the field of life sciences to contact us to benefit from the wide basket of benefits for companies operating in Jerusalem."