Surge's solution enables targeted and personalized interventions to reduce patients' risk of postsurgical complications
Surge's technology combines a biological analysis of the immune system with an AI algorithm. (Credit: Silas Camargo Silão from Pixabay)
Biotech and medical AI innovator Surge announced a $2.6 million round co-led by HCVC, a global early-stage fund dedicated to high-potential technology startups, and Boutique Venture Partners, a leading fund based in the Silicon Valley. Veteran angel investors, including Nicolas Godin, the COO/CFO of Cardiologs, also participated in the round. Surge was awarded the 2022 iLab grant, along with other non-dilutive grants to complete the fundraising.
Hosted in the US by StartX, a nonprofit founders community, as well as supported in Europe by Agoranov, 50 Partners, and Wilco, Surge’s flagship product uses innovative machine learning algorithms to decode a patient’s immune system from a blood sample. This technology enables physicians to quickly forecast the risk of postoperative complications. With 30% of major surgeries currently resulting in complications and 40% of patients aged 65 and above suffering long-lasting cognitive impacts after orthopedic or cardiac surgery, Surge’s solution enables targeted and personalized interventions to reduce patients’ risk of postsurgical complications.
A patented solution
Surge’s technology combines a biological analysis of the immune system with an AI algorithm, enabling it to calculate each patient’s risk of surgical complications and propose customized preventive management strategies to optimize the care pathway.
A multi-year transfer & collaboration
Surge has obtained from Stanford University the exclusive license to the patented postoperative complication prediction technology developed through more than ten years of research on surgical risk prediction conducted by Brice Gaudillière, MD, PhD, Physician-Scientist and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine. In the summer of 2022, Surge also signed a research agreement with Stanford with the goal of developing biotech innovations.
The funding round will enable Surge to further develop its team and conduct clinical studies with other hospitals, such as the one started in the spring of 2022 with the Foch Hospital in Suresnes, France. The Foch study, launched in spring 2022, will validate Surge’s prediction of surgical site infections in abdominal surgery.
A strong growth market
Of the nearly 6.1 million and 5.1 million abdominal surgeries conducted each year in the United States and Europe respectively, approximately 30% result in postoperative complications such as infections, cognitive decline, or thrombo-embolic accidents. These complications usually require additional care or re-hospitalization leading to high healthcare costs and patient morbidity and mortality. The burden of complications is increasing as the population ages and the number of surgeries increases almost 5% per year (Transparency Market Research).
“We are proud to support Surge in its ambition to reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Its international, multidisciplinary team inspires respect. They have created very strong relationships spanning both the French and American academic worlds, with partners including, AP-HP, and Institut Pasteur, and Stanford building a solid network that will allow them to achieve their goals.” -Alexis Houssou, founder of HCVC Partners.
Source: Company Press Release