Polares Medical, a clinical-stage medical technology company headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, has raised $50 million in a Series C funding round to support the development of its transcatheter therapy for mitral regurgitation.
The round included investment from DC Global Ventures, Lumination Partners, existing investors, and a new strategic investor. The funding will be used to expand the company’s operations and accelerate research and development efforts.
What The Company Does
Polares Medical is developing minimally invasive therapies aimed at treating structural heart disease. The company’s primary focus is the MRace Posterior Leaflet Replacement system, a transcatheter treatment designed for patients suffering from mitral regurgitation.
Mitral regurgitation is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward through the heart. The disorder can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart failure if left untreated.
The MRace system is designed to replace the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve using a catheter-based approach. This technique allows physicians to treat the condition without requiring open-heart surgery, which can be particularly beneficial for patients who are not suitable candidates for conventional surgical procedures.
By targeting the posterior leaflet specifically, the therapy aims to restore proper valve function while preserving the overall structure of the mitral valve.
Advertisement
Market Context / Industry Background
Structural heart disease treatments have increasingly shifted toward minimally invasive procedures over the past decade. Transcatheter therapies, which allow devices to be delivered to the heart through blood vessels rather than open surgery, have become a major focus of innovation within cardiovascular medicine.
Procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have demonstrated how catheter-based interventions can improve outcomes while reducing recovery times. Similar approaches are now being developed for mitral valve conditions, including mitral regurgitation.
Mitral regurgitation affects millions of patients globally, yet many remain untreated due to the risks associated with traditional surgical interventions. This has created demand for less invasive therapies that can be performed on high-risk or elderly patients.
Companies developing transcatheter mitral valve solutions are working to address this unmet clinical need while expanding the range of treatment options available to cardiologists.
Founder / Investor Commentary
Polares Medical CEO Jacques R. Essinger said the company’s technology aims to introduce a new approach to treating mitral regurgitation through targeted leaflet replacement.
“We believe Posterior Leaflet Replacement represents a new chapter in transcatheter mitral therapy,” Essinger said.
He noted that clinical testing of the MRace system has already produced encouraging early results.
“With over 70 patients of clinical experience and encouraging one-year data demonstrating sustained safety and efficacy, we have established a strong foundation for MRace,” he said.
According to Essinger, the new financing will allow the company to continue advancing the technology and further validate its clinical potential.
“This financing positions us to advance the treatment paradigm for complex mitral regurgitation,” he added.
Growth Plans / Use Of Funds
The $50 million Series C funding will primarily support ongoing clinical development of the MRace system and expand Polares Medical’s research and development capabilities.
The company plans to continue clinical studies aimed at evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the device while preparing for potential future regulatory pathways.
In addition to clinical development, the funding will support the expansion of operational capacity as the company advances toward later-stage development and potential commercialization.
By strengthening its research infrastructure and clinical programs, Polares Medical aims to position the MRace system as a new therapeutic option for patients with complex mitral regurgitation.
About Polares Medical
Polares Medical is a clinical-stage medical technology company focused on developing minimally invasive therapies for structural heart disease. Founded and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the company is developing the MRace Posterior Leaflet Replacement system, a transcatheter therapy designed to treat patients with mitral regurgitation through a catheter-based procedure that avoids open-heart surgery.
