Stent Tek Receives Funding to Advance Development of Its ePath AVF Device for Dialysis Access

August 30, 2017—Stent Tek, a United Kingdom–based company specializing in endovascular solutions, announced that it has successfully closed a Series A funding round with investments from two institutional investors. The company is developing a catheter-based system that aims to provide a safer and more efficient alternative for patients undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure.

Stent Tek's single-use ePath arteriovenous fistula (AVF) system employs a covered stent graft for creating a vascular access fistula near the wrist level in hemodialysis patients. The company has validated the core functionality of the system with in vivo models and anticipates that the ePath AVF catheter system will complete preclinical trials by Q4 2017.

The investments from Julz and Deepbridge Capital will allow the company to advance the development of its ePath AVF device. Stent Tek previously received £1.2 million in grant funding from the National Institute of Health Research, Innovate UK, and the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub for the development of the ePath AVF device.

Julz, which has offices in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Suzhou, China, invests globally in health care companies in all sectors. Deepbridge Capital is a United Kingdom–based venture capital firm that focuses on life sciences. Deepbridge provided Stent Tek with initial seed investment in 2016.