Minneapolis-based Pharaoh named Amaza Reitmeier as CEO and Dr. Nandan Lad as chief medical officer (CMO).
Reitmeier joins with more than two decades of medtech leadership experience. She most recently served as VP and GM of Neuromodulation at Medtronic. There, she oversaw the medtech giant’s complex neurotechnology business and led the introduction of multiple new technologies.
Now, she takes over at Pharaoh as it looks to advance its Neurapheresis cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) management system and MindsEye expandable port for cranial access in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
“I’m honored to join Pharaoh Neuro at this pivotal moment,” said Reitmeier. “Our platform has the potential to reshape the standard of neurocritical care. I’m excited to work with our engineers, clinicians, and partners to bring this innovation to patients.”
Lad, a professor of neurosurgery and vice chair for innovation at Duke University, joins as CMO, having invented Pharaoh Neuro’s core technology.
“As CMO and the inventor of this technology, I am deeply committed to ensuring its rigorous, evidence-based clinical introduction,” said Dr. Lad. “Our goal is to deliver a therapy platform that improves outcomes and earns the trust of patients and clinicians.”
More about the funding and the Pharaoh Neuro technology
Arboretum Ventures led the Series A round. Hatteras Venture Partners, the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and IAG Capital Partners participated, too.
The company plans to use the funds to support the development and regulatory clearance of Neurapheresis.
Neurapheresis offers a new approach to CSF management, the company says. A closed-loop platform, it was designed to circulate and filter a patient’s own (autologous) CSFwithout introducing replacement fluids.
“With this financing and a strong, experienced team, we are building the platform to change a decades-old paradigm in neurocritical care,” said Reitmeier. “Neurapheresis represents an active, closed-loop approach to CSF management designed to reduce complications and give clinicians greater control in treating the most critically ill neurological patients.”
Pharaoh also intends to use funds to support the reintroduction of MindsEye on the U.S. market. MindsEye was first brought to market by Minnetronix Medical, earning FDA clearance in 2020.
