Aortyx, a medtech scaleup based in Barcelona, has raised €13.8 million in a Series A funding round led by Ship2B Ventures. Funding will support first-in-human readiness for a proprietary bioresorbable patch designed to treat aortic dissections using a minimally invasive approach.
Aortyx is developing a solution for aortic dissection — a life-threatening condition caused by a tear in the aortic wall. The technology features a steerable catheter that navigates through the aorta and deploys a biodegradable circular patch at the site of the tear. The patch supports tissue regeneration by acting as a scaffold while naturally resorbing over time.
The founding team includes four PhD-level professionals: CEO Jordi Martorell, CTO Noemí Balà, CSO Salvador Borrós, and CMO Vicenç Riambau. The company emerged from research conducted at the IQS School of Engineering in Barcelona and clinical insights provided by Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
More than 50,000 Europeans are affected by aortic dissections annually. Aortyx targets at least 50% of these cases with its first-generation device. Existing treatments — open surgery, stent grafts, or blood pressure management — present significant risks and high mortality rates. The Aortyx approach aims to reduce those risks through less invasive, more durable solutions.
“Aortic dissections kill more people than car crashes. What we hope to provide is an option that is effective, long-lasting, and respectful with the aorta to treat aortic dissection and other aortic diseases,” said Jordi Martorell, co-founder and CEO of Aortyx.
Preclinical testing in animal models and cadavers has yielded positive results. The current focus is on reaching clinical trial readiness within two years. The technology is intended for use by vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons.
Investment participants include Clave Capital through Clave Innohealth (supported by CDTI-Innvierte), Nara Capital, the EIC Fund, CDTI via SICC Innvierte, angel investors, and a leading global manufacturer in the aortic device sector.
Dr. Vicenç Riambau, internationally recognized vascular surgeon and Head of Vascular Surgery at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, has contributed significantly to product development and global visibility by presenting research at major conferences and publishing peer-reviewed results.