Vessi Medical

Company profile

Vessi Medical company profile

Vessi Medical, an Israeli medical device startup, brings a new approach to treat Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC). Vessi uses surface cryotherapy, a treatment that utilizes extreme cold, to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. Categorized as surface cancer on the inside lining of the bladder, NMIBC affects 2 million people globally with 300,000 new cases reported every year. TransUrethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) is the leading first-line therapy. Yet, this invasive surgical procedure, requiring a costly hospital stay performed under general anesthesia, can often be inadequate. In up to 80% of cases the cancer returns, with increased complications as patients need multiple repeat procedures that further reduce quality of life. Vessi's minimally invasive NMIBC solution provides a new, first-line, office-based therapy alternative to surgery. The company's patent-pending, bladder-specific cryotherapy technology eliminates costly and problematic repeat surgeries seen with TURBT, reducing the need for hospital stay by providing in office or ambulatory treatment. The technology successfully ablates unwanted tissue, reduces the risk of dispersed cancers cells, all while causing no bladder damage. The Vessi system consists of a standalone console and a disposable catheter that is inserted into the bladder. Vessi is backed by the Trendlines Group, a leading Israeli early stage investor, and led by seasoned medical device and cryotherapy veterans. The company has already demonstrated promising proof of concept in animals with its Alpha product. Vessi’s first application will initially target the $1.2 billion NMIBC market, with future applications for the treatment of overactive bladder and urinary tract infections, both billion-dollar markets.