H2020 backs tooth decay imaging system

A medical devices company focused on revolutionising the management of tooth decay and enabling preventive dentistry has announced it has secured 4.5 million UK pounds (~€6.3m) in new equity and grant funding, including €2.6m in grant funding from Horizon 2020’s SME Instrument. 

Archangel Investors and the Scottish Investment Bank have announced they have invested £2.6m in Calcivis, increasing their current investment. The new funding will be used to further prepare the Calcivis® Caries Activity Imaging System for commercialisation. The device has a CE Mark in Europe and Calcivis recently reported that a first clinical study met its primary performance endpoint relating to the system’s ability to identify early active caries lesions. Calcivis is undertaking further work to prepare for commercialisation in Europe and to gain approval to market the product in the United States.

Adam Christie, Calcivis CEO, said: “This substantial new investment and grant funding puts the company in a very strong position as we continue to work towards commercialisation. The insight we gained from our successful clinical study has allowed us to refine the device ahead of a controlled market introduction in Europe, starting in the UK in late 2016. The new funds will also support us in our regulatory work in the US, the world’s largest dentistry market, where we see huge potential for the Calcivis system.”

Adding her thoughts, Kerry Sharp, head of the Scottish Investment Bank, part of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Along with our partners, we’ve worked closely with the company over the last three years to provide an integrated package of support that includes investment from the Scottish Co-Investment Fund and innovation support. Our Enterprise Europe Network team also helped the company successfully apply for help via the SME Instrument programme. We look forward to continuing to work with the company to help realise its ambitious growth plans.”

The Calcivis Caries Activity Imaging System is an in-clinic device that combines a sensitive intraoral camera and application technology to deliver a precise amount of proprietary disclosing solution, containing a photo-protein, onto the tooth surface.

The photo-protein binds calcium ions and emits a blue light signal proportional to the amount of calcium present. This exquisitely sensitive chemiluminescent system produces a ‘demineralisation’ map of the tooth, enabling caries lesion activity assessment in a single patient visit and providing insight into other conditions, including acid erosion.