Oxford Medical Products has raised £2.5M in equity investment to conduct the first human trials of Sirona, its weight-loss platform. Sirona is a hydrogel-based technology in a tablet format that, once swallowed, expands in the stomach, stops feelings of hunger and suppresses appetite. Partnering with Southampton and Bristol University Hospitals, Oxford Medical Products will use the funding to run human trials, testing Sirona’s safety and efficacy as a weight-loss solution.
The money raised will also be used to develop line extensions to specifically help patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alongside initial research into a drug delivery platform for Oxford Medical Products core hydrogel IP.
A similar mechanism of appetite suppression has proven effective in gastric balloon procedures, however, Sirona tablets can be taken at home and stay in the stomach for several weeks. They work 24/7 before breaking down over time and passing naturally.
“We want to empower people to lead their own weight loss journey, remove the need for invasive or unaffordable treatments, and bring weight-loss solutions to everyone who needs them” explained Dr Camilla Easter, CEO of Oxford Medical Products. “Sirona will give people an option that has never been possible before – an easy and affordable way to control appetite and lose weight.”
Oxford Medical Products was founded in 2017 by Professor Jan Czenurska and Dr Hutan Ashrafian who combined their world-renowned expertise in hydrogels and bariatric surgery to help people with weight loss. Dr Camilla Easter and Dr Nick Edwards, two medically trained entrepreneurs, joined OMP to turn this vision into a reality.
The funding was led by Selvedge Venture with Nesta, Ada Ventures, Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund, Verve VC alongside several angel investors including Dr Nick Edwards, a founder of the company, and Dr Jan Hruska, co-founder of Sophos.