Public Funding for Ceryx Medical Limited

Ceryx Medical are developing the next generation of medical devices. Their patented bio-electronics allow them to develop closed-loop systems which are able to listen to the human body and respond to its needs, restoring function and treating disease. They have shown that their first device is able to significantly improve heart function in a model of heart failure, the remarkable data generated so far suggests a potentially revolutionary therapy for this devastating disease. In this study Ceryx will now prove the potential of this as a therapy. Using a model of heart failure, the Ceryx device will be tested in a real world environment demonstrating that the device can improve functionality in heart failure, the aim being that victims of the disease progress from a state in which exhaustion occurs with minimal physical exertion to a near normal life. The study aims to demonstrate that the improvement in cardiac function translates to meaningful improvements in the patient's condition. The aims of the study have been identified following extensive discussions with cardiac physicians, electrophysiologists and surgeons. The study will also expand on earlier work which suggests that by improving the efficiency of the heart this unique device is able to reduce the workload on the heart and allow repair of the cardiac damage which drives heart failure. The project will further refine the device itself, incorporating industry standard chest impedance measurements to monitor breathing and modulate heart rate according to exercise. This improved design will then be further miniaturised, a significant step on the path to implanting the device in humans.

Patients who undergo cardiac surgery often find their hearts struggle to supply enough blood to the body during the recovery period post-surgery. Ceryx have developed a unique pacing device which is able to boost the performance of the heart while also reducing the workload on the heart, which can help the heart to heal. In this project, Ceryx will trial its new technology in patients following cardiac surgery. Ceryx will interface their technology to an existing temporary pacing device which patients are routinely fitted with during surgery. Driven by Ceryx's technology this device will then deliver the therapeutic pacing to the heart until the patient is ready to be discharged, usually after about a week. During this time the patient's heart will be monitored for improvements in function and structure. The patients' ability to exercise will also be assessed, along with their symptoms and quality of life. If the trial is successful, this project will have accelerated the development of Ceryx's technology considerably and it may be that a new therapy for patients recovering from cardiac surgery could be on the market in 1-2 years.

Ceryx Medical are developing the next generation of medical devices. Their patented bio-electronics allow them to develop closed-loop systems which are able to listen to the human body and respond to its needs, restoring function and treating disease. They have shown that their first device is able to significantly improve heart function in a model of heart failure, the remarkable data generated so far suggests a potentially revolutionary therapy for this devastating disease. In this study Ceryx will now prove the potential of this as a therapy. Using a model of heart failure, the Ceryx device will be tested in a real world environment demonstrating that the device can improve functionality in heart failure, the aim being that victims of the disease progress from a state in which exhaustion occurs with minimal physical exertion to a near normal life. The study aims to demonstrate that the improvement in cardiac function translates to meaningful improvements in the patient's condition. The aims of the study have been identified following extensive discussions with cardiac physicians, electrophysiologists and surgeons. The study will also expand on earlier work which suggests that by improving the efficiency of the heart this unique device is able to reduce the workload on the heart and allow repair of the cardiac damage which drives heart failure. The project will further refine the device itself, incorporating industry standard chest impedance measurements to monitor breathing and modulate heart rate according to exercise. This improved design will then be further miniaturised, a significant step on the path to implanting the device in humans.

We are developing a novel implantable medical electronic device for drug-free control of Blood Pressure. We are, therefore, addressing a major global health challenge as high Blood Pressure (hypertension) is a major cause of stroke, heart/kidney failure and dementia. 1-in-3 people are hypertensive, the prevalence being highest amongst the older population; with close to 70% of the patients with high Blood Pressure being above the age of 60. Currently, close to 11% of the global population is aged 60 years or over and is estimated to reach nearly 22% by 2050. Our device assists the body to remain healthy by monitoring and controlling biological processes within their normal safe ranges – using a mechanism of biological feedback to attain and track the desired level. The design of our novel device is based on electronic versions of the biological cells normally controlling the function in a healthy body, and like them are analogue (not digital) meaning they respond instantly and use little power. During the project we will optimise the design of the electronics and collect data on the safety, feasibility and efficiency of our device in controlling Blood Pressure.

The Central Pattern Generator (CPG) implants, which we are developing, are a potentially disruptive medical science and technology solution enabling the effective bioelectronic treatment of a wide range of chronic diseases. Their first application will be within Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) market where their use will improve the life of patients, and help relieve the growing burden on medical carers and National Health resources arising from the increasing incidence of coronary disease. Although the CPG technology has a wide range of applications it will be developed initially to restore cardiac function in heart failure with indirect benefits for hypertensive and sleep apnoea patients. The advantages of neural bioelectronics include an ability to integrate, in real time, biological inputs and synchronize to physiological feedback bringing increased efficacy, safety and autonomy for the patient. CPG based therapies cause none of the side-effects arising from the long term drug use present in today's drug based therapies.