Certain VCs are becoming reluctant to invest in medtech, citing difficulties such as a shrinking pool of buyers and increasing regulatory challenges. But Sofinnova Partners has successfully sold a medical device portfolio company – and one that is in a difficult field like renal denervation, no less – to a Japanese buyer. Antoine Papiernik, managing partner at the French VC, explains how persevering with a renal denervation technology paid-off and gives his perspective on whether medtech is still a space worth investing in.

Cambridge, UK-based Healx has concluded a $56m series B round, led by Atomico, to put up to 50 potential rare disease treatments into the clinic within two years using its AI/ML platform.

Tapping into the ability of arenaviruses to deliver prolonged local immune activation, rapid regression of localized and metastatic cancers, and long-term disease control, Essen, Germany-based start-up Abalos Therapeutics has raised €12m to advance its lead candidates towards clinical testing.