The total funding could reach €17.5 million ($18.6 million).
Paris-based Carmat develops a total artificial heart. It designed the platform to provide a therapeutic alternative for those suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure.
EIC Accelerator funds European companies aiming to bring innovations to market. The council selected Carmat and its Aeson artificial heart, recognizing it as a “high-quality medical innovation,” according to a news release.
As a result of the selection, Carmat received the maximum possible funding available. It picked up a non-dilutive grant of €2.5 million ($2.7 million) to support the industrialization of Aeson. Additionally, Carmat received an optional equity financing of €15 million ($15.9 million). This funding, from the European Innovation Council Fund, supports marketing efforts for Aeson.
“We are proud and grateful to have been awarded within this prestigious program,” said Stéphane Piat, Carmat CEO. “The EIC’s decision confirms the very high quality and strong potential of our innovation and gives us access to substantial funding to support our development. I would like to thank all the Carmat teams involved in this challenging call for projects, which once again highlights the urgent need for an innovative solution to treat advanced biventricular heart failure.”
Carmat’s Aeson artificial heart system includes three parts: an implanted prosthesis, external equipment and a hospital care console. The prosthesis includes two micro pumps that push the actuator fluid to the membranes and generate the systole and diastole. There are two ventricles chambers, with a membrane separating them. One part is for blood, and one is for the actuator flood. The Aeson’s creators made the blood-contacting layer of the membrane out of biocompatible materials.
