Amferia secures €1.2 million to combat antibiotic-resistant infections

New Delhi: Amferia has completed a €1.2 million investment round aimed at advancing its solutions for bacterial infections. The funding round, which was oversubscribed, was led by existing shareholders and attracted several new investors, including Chalmers Ventures.

This fresh capital will propel the development of Amferia’s clinical programs in human health and facilitate the commercialization of its unique technology. The company’s proprietary platform harnesses antimicrobial peptides to effectively combat resistant bacteria, a critical advancement given the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance.

In conjunction with the investment news, Amferia has announced its first commercial agreement with Orkla Wound Care. This partnership marks a significant milestone, as Amferia’s innovative wound dressing designed for animal health is set to hit the market. The product leverages Amferia’s hydrogel technology to kill resistant bacteria, offering a novel solution for veterinary wound care.

Anand Rajasekharan, CEO and co-founder of Amferia, emphasized, “Bacterial infections are likely to surpass cancer and heart disease as a number one cause of human deaths in the future, and this is largely due to resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Our hydrogel technology enables the safe and stable use of antimicrobial peptides, allowing them to effectively target bacteria without harming surrounding tissue. Essentially, we are using antimicrobial peptides to mimic the immune system and reduce the need for antibiotics.” 

“Antibiotics are essential. Without them, we cannot survive. We aim to support the existing arsenal against bacteria. We need a support system for antibiotics and antimicrobials. Our technology is not about replacing antibiotics but helping healthcare professionals use them more effectively,” Rajasekharan stated. 

Chairman Agneta Edberg expressed gratitude to the company’s supporters and investors. “Amferia’s first product using our proprietary technology platform is a wound dressing for animal health, offering a new solution for treating wounds and preventing infections in veterinary applications. The company aims to launch further products in the near future, using our platform in human health to provide new treatments for patients at risk of skin and wound infections, also resistant, which makes our technology part of the future solutions,” said Edberg

Jonas Bergman, Investment Director at Chalmers Ventures, commented, “We believe this investment will help Amferia advance its hydrogel platform and bring it to the market for human use. A portion of the funds will be allocated towards regulatory and post-regulatory work for human use. It will also help Amferia form new strategic partnerships to ensure a smooth market entry.”

The company’s patented hydrogel platform encases antimicrobial peptides in a stable gel, protecting them from degradation by natural enzymes. This approach enhances the peptides’ efficacy and allows their use in various applications where bacterial eradication is essential.