4D Medicine raises £3.4m to further develop biomaterial platform for 3D-printed medical devices

4D MedicineNottingham-based company developing absorbable biomaterials for 3D-printed medical devices has raised £3.4 million ($4.4 million) in Series A investment.

The round of funding was supported by Oshen Holdings, DSW Ventures, SFC Capital, Boundary Capital and private investors, including several leading scientists and surgeons. The funding will be used to complete preclinical testing of the first range of products and obtain FDA approval for entry into the US market.

Philip Smith, CEO of the company, commented: “I would like to thank all our investors for their trust and support. Our success in continuing to secure investment despite challenging market conditions over the past few years is testament to their belief in the commercial potential of the company and our world-class team. The funds will be used to complete pre-clinical testing of our first range of medical products and our preparations for entry into the orthopaedic market.”

4D Medicine is a company spun out from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick in 2020 and is the parent company of two wholly owned subsidiaries, 4D Biomaterials and 4D Medical Devices. 4Degra is a resorbable, photocurable resin that is used to develop 3D-printed medical implants, such as orthopedic devices or soft tissue scaffolds. Initial testing has shown that the material gradually erodes as the body heals and is absorbed through normal metabolic processes as natural tissue grows back in its place. Compared to other resorbable biomaterials used for implants, 4Degra’s gradual erosion reduces the release of harmful and potentially painful acidic byproducts.

This latest raise brings 4D’s total investment to £5 million, with the company now preparing to raise a Series B investment early next year. Jason Druker, Portfolio Manager at SFC Capital, who first invested in 4D four years ago, praised the “great progress” the team has already made, while Doug Quinn, Partner at DSW Ventures, commented that 4D’s platform “opens up new possibilities for implants and devices” and has already “attracted the attention of major industry players, including a potential acquirer”.

Didier Cowling, Partner at Oshen Holdings added: “The company is now poised to make a significant impact in the bioresorbable medical device space. We believe 4Degra is a true game changer that enables 4D to develop new bioresorbable medical devices with unique properties.”