Sweden’s Amferia secures €1.2M to kill bacteria, even resistant ones; here’s how

Mölndal-based Amferia, a Swedish medtech company specialising in antimicrobial healthcare solutions, has completed an “over-prescribed” €1.2M investment round, with participation from existing owners, new investors, and Chalmers Ventures.

Agneta Edberg, chairman of Amferia, says, “I am very grateful to our owners for investing in Amferia and in our vision of reducing resistant antimicrobial infections globally. I want to say a big thank you to our existing owners for your continued support as well as welcoming our new investors. We look forward to building the future together.”

Edberg also mentions that Amferia’s first product, a wound dressing for animal health, uses the company’s proprietary technology platform to treat wounds and prevent infections in veterinary applications. 

Amferia plans to launch additional products soon, targeting human health to provide new treatments for patients at risk of skin and wound infections, including those resistant to current therapies.

Capital utilisation

The funding will help Amferia advance clinical development in human health and commercialise its platform using antimicrobial peptides to combat bacterial infections. 

In the second quarter of 2024, Amferia also signed its first commercial agreement with Orkla Wound Care to launch its proprietary wound dressing technology for the animal health segment, designed to combat resistant bacteria.

Anand Rajasekharan, CEO and co-founder of Amferia, says, “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,” adds Rajasekharan.

The power of antimicrobial peptides

Antimicrobial peptides effectively kill bacteria by using their positive charge to attract and puncture negatively charged bacterial membranes. However, they are fragile in biological environments, often being destroyed by enzymes within seconds. 

Amferia’s hydrogel addresses this challenge by providing a flexible, adaptable solution that effectively targets even resistant bacteria, ensuring prolonged antimicrobial action.

The company’s hydrogel platform stabilises antimicrobial peptides by encasing them in a solid gel, protecting them from natural enzymes and keeping their bacteria-killing properties active. Used in wound dressings, the hydrogel avoids ingestion, reducing the need for lengthy clinical trials.

Jonas Bergman, Investment Director at Chalmers Ventures, says, “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.”

Amferia’s antimicrobial amphiphilic hydrogel, developed in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, effectively kills bacteria, including resistant strains, without harming the body. 

Its first product, a wound-care dressing, treats a wide range of wounds, from simple skin injuries to chronic and post-operative wounds. 

With antibiotic-resistant infections projected by the WHO to become a leading cause of illness and death in the next decade, the hydrogel is also being explored for use in sprays for deep wounds, implant coatings, and various catheters.

Amferia aims to expand its hydrogel technology to enhance infection control and patient outcomes across multiple medical fields. The company is currently conducting clinical investigations in Europe and is pursuing CE marking and FDA clearance for human use.

Amferia’s recent developments

Last month, Amferia signed its second commercial agreement with Swiss animal health leader Biokema SA. This partnership introduced Amferia’s wound care technology to veterinary patients in Switzerland. The collaboration will use data from Amferia’s European clinical testing and aims to market the products starting in early 2025.

In March 2024, Amferia and Medspray, known for their micro droplet spray technology, jointly secured the Eureka Eurostars grant to collaboratively develop an advanced antimicrobial spray for wound care. The Eurostars programme, which fosters collaborative R&D among SMEs across Europe, recognises their commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance through innovative technologies.

Prior to the current funding round, in January 2023, Amferia raised SEK 15.4M from Almi Invest, Chalmers Ventures, and several angel investors to launch its antimicrobial wound care dressing.