Israeli start-up awarded €5.5m to ‘revolutionise’ pelvic organ prolapse treatment

The Israeli femtech company Escala Medical has secured €5.5m in grant and equity investment from the European Innovation Council to “revolutionise” pelvic organ prolapse treatment.

The start-up developed a device hoped to bring incision-free pelvic organ prolapse treatment to women suffering from this widespread and debilitating condition.

Pelvic organ prolapse refers to the weakening of the pelvic support structures. This is a result of a combination of childbirth injury, genetics, ageing and chronic straining with constipation.

It is estimated that around 50 per cent of women over the age of 40 have some degree of prolapse.

Current surgical treatment options for pelvic organ prolapse are invasive and principally suitable for advanced stage prolapse. Until now, there have not been effective incision-free alternatives for women experiencing early-stage symptoms or for those patients who are not eligible for surgery, says Escala.

With a procedure that can be performed under local anaesthesia, the company’s technology aims to address this significant market need.

The device is a tissue anchoring, approximation and fixation system intended for anchoring sutures to ligaments of the pelvic floor.

It utilises an incision-free vaginal approach allowing fixation of the vaginal apex to the sacrospinous ligament for apical suspension – a procedure is regarded as the most important component in prolapse repair.

The technology, already commercially available in the US, also promises to provide a faster and easier solution for clinicians addressing patients with advanced stage pelvic organ prolapse.

“With recent FDA clearance for our prolapse repair device, the European Innovation Council investment enables operations expansion and fulfils Escala’s mission of transforming pelvic organ prolapse treatment for countless women worldwide,” said Dr Edit Goldberg, CEO of Escala.

“Our game-changing device provides a long-awaited solution allowing early-stage treatment and significantly improving the quality of life for millions of women globally.”

Dr Robert Auerbach, Escala board of directors’ chair, emphasised the start-up’s achievements in the rapidly evolving femtech market.

He added: “This funding from the European Innovation Council further validates Escala’s technology.

“It propels us forward in our mission to provide durable, incisionless treatments for patients suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, effectively enhancing their quality of life.”