4D Medicine raises 3.4 million pounds for biomaterial platform

4D Medicine, a spin-out from the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick, has received £3.4 million ($4.4 million) in a Series A investment.

The funding round was backed by Oshen Holdings, DSW Ventures, SFC Capital, Boundary Capital and private investors including leading scientists and surgeons. With these funds, the company plans to complete preclinical testing of its first product line and seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

4D Medicine, which was founded in 2020 and is now based in Nottingham, develops innovative biomaterial-based 3D printing solutions for medical applications. The company’s flagship product, 4Degra, is a bioresorbable material that can be used in a variety of implants and surgical devices. Applications include orthopaedic implants and soft tissue scaffolds to aid the healing process after surgery or injury. Initial tests have shown that 4Degra gradually degrades as it heals, being replaced by natural tissue structures that form in the affected areas.

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

Compared to conventional resorbable biomaterials, 4Degra offers decisive advantages. While other materials often degrade rapidly, releasing acidic by-products that can cause pain, inflammation or cysts, 4Degra degrades gradually and in a controlled manner without leaving such harmful residues.

A notable feature of 4Degra is its ability to be 3D printed in complex geometric shapes. The material can be produced in both soft and hard formulations, making it suitable for flexible products such as films and membranes, but also for solid components such as plates, pins and bone scaffolds.

Didier Cowling, Partner at Oshen Holdings added: “We were delighted to lead this deal and we look forward to working with the 4D team. The company is now poised to make a substantial impact in the bioresorbable medical device space. We believe that 4Degra is a real game-changer that is enabling 4D to develop novel bioresorbable medical devices with unique properties.”

Doug Quinn, Partner at DSW Ventures, commented: “4D’s novel biomaterial platform opens up new possibilities for implants and devices. The company has already attracted attention from large industry players including a potential acquirer. This funding will enable it to apply for regulatory clearance in the US and target opportunities in the £5bn market for resorbable medical devices.”

Jason Druker, Portfolio Manager at SFC Capital said: “We are delighted to refresh our commitment to Phil and the 4D team. Since we first invested four years ago, they have made great progress and we’re excited to see the impact of their first medical device products”.