Helnsinki-based NADMED has closed a €3.5 million series A round to fund its entry to the U.S. and other international markets with its proprietary nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) measurement technology that may help clinicians establish more precise and personalized treatments for various diseases.
The round was led by Finnish science-based startup investor Nordic Science Investments (NSI). Additional funding was secured from previous investors Voima Ventures and University of Helsinki Funds, from a number of private European investors, and a grant from Business Finland.
NADs are crucial molecules found in every cell of the body, playing a vital role in energy production, cellular repair, and growth, together with glutathiones (a powerful antioxidant in the body). Measuring NAD and glutathione levels is important because imbalances have been reported to be linked to various age-related health conditions, including metabolic disorders, cancer, heart and brain diseases, as well as muscle atrophy.
Other stress factors, such as poor diet, post-inflammatory state, or treatment side effects, can also contribute to NAD levels decreasing. NAD measurement should also be considered for unexplained fatigue, muscle weakness, long COVID, or unexpected drug side effects.
Blood sample efficiency
Based on years of research from Professor Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara’s laboratory at the University of Helsinki, NADMED’s testing method is the first on the market to measure all four NADs using fresh blood samples quickly and efficiently with the same accuracy as mass spectrometry. The technology is based on an accurate colorimetric quantification that can be performed even from a minuscule amount of blood. A similar measurement is done for glutathione forms from the same sample.
Demand from physicians and the pharma industry for a quick and reliable test method has rapidly increased in recent years as researchers have found more links between NAD and glutathione (together called REDOX-metabolites) levels and various diseases. NADMED provides measuring kits for clinical laboratories and laboratory services to meet research, drug development, and clinical needs.
“In the coming years, metabolism will be the hottest topic in medicine and biology, especially when applied to personalized health and disease understanding. In this dawning age of metabolism, NAD will be the new DNA,” said Jari Närhi, CEO and co-founder at NADMED. “We are pleased and grateful for the funding from these insightful investors to spread and further develop the unique technology to measure all REDOX metabolites – something that was not possible before. This investment will enable us to bring new capabilities to diagnostics, therapy monitoring, personalized medicine, and advancement of metabolic science for the benefit of mankind.”
Extraction method opportunities
Lead investor NSI focuses on supporting the most promising science-based startups in the Nordics and Baltics, particularly those with disruptive technology and innovative solutions grounded in rigorous university research. Their portfolio features several deep tech, health tech, and life sciences startups.
“Investing in NADMED was a compelling choice for us, driven by the exceptional expertise of Professor Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, a globally recognized leader in metabolic disorders. For investors, the company’s diverse target market not only provides robust risk mitigation but also presents exciting growth opportunities across multiple sectors,” said Alexandra Gylfe, Founding Partner at NSI. “We are eager to leverage our strong U.S. science and biotech networks to support NADMED’s expansion into the U.S. market, enhancing their global footprint and driving further success in the years to come.”
NADMED’s key advantage is that its extraction method allows each metabolite to be measured individually, unlike any other method. Previously, mass spectrometry was the only available solution to accurately measure NAD+, but unable to measure reduced forms of NAD. Mass spectrometry is highly accurate but expensive and has low throughput and capacity. NADMED’s analysis has been validated against mass spectrometry. NADMED’s kits are the only CE marked medical devices for NAD testing in the market.
NADMED currently serves customers in 27 countries, including clinical laboratories (e.g., Synlab), universities (e.g., Newcastle University), research institutions (e.g., NIH), and pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Clene Nanomedicine).
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/08/finnis-biotech-nadmed-raises-e3-5-million-series-a-for-vitamin-b3-deficiencies-testing/
