Solvay Ventures invests in Invizius

Brussels, February 4, 2020 – Solvay Ventures announces today its equity investment in Invizius,  the University of Edinburgh spin-out developing potentially lifesaving products that reduce complications rates suffered by dialysis patients. Solvay Ventures invests alongside Mercia Asset Management, Downing Ventures, the University of Edinburgh’s Old College Capital fund and the Scottish Investment Bank. Invizius is conducting pre-clinical testing and manufacturing, as it prepares to enter clinical trials and intends to raise Series A funding within 18 months.

As market leader in sulfone polymers, Solvay provides pure, biocompatible specialty polymers used in the production of dialysis filters. In addition to its internal R&D efforts, investments in ground-breaking start-ups like Invizius advances Solvay’s commitment to serving this market to help increase life expectancy and survival rate for millions of patients on dialysis all across the world. 

“Invizius is developing a breakthrough solution, bridging the worlds of advanced materials, Solvay’s core expertise, and biotechnology, to offer patients on dialysis an improved outlook. At Solvay Ventures we see the fusion of biotech and materials happening in key Solvay markets and we actively support that evolution,” said Peter Vanlaeke, Investment Manager Solvay Ventures Europe.

The patient's immune system treats the dialysis machine as a foreign body. “Invizius’s H-Guard™ product is a powerful anti-inflammatory used to coat the dialysis filter surface to ‘hide’ it and prevent an immune response with serious life-shortening cardiovascular complications,” explains CTO Dr Andy Herbert. This innovative technology also has potential for use with devices such as heart and lung machines, stents and grafts, or in organ and cell transplants. 

“Our goal is to bring much-needed improvement to the lives of millions of dialysis patients. This investment allows us to take a big step towards this, and we are delighted to have won the backing of a consortium of smart, well-funded investors such as Solvay Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of the Solvay Group with its historical dialysis market presence,” said Richard Boyd, co-founder and CEO of Invizius.

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About Solvay

Solvay Ventures is the Venture Capital fund of Solvay. Solvay Ventures invests in breakthrough technologies in advanced materials, devices and business model innovation. Operating since 2005, Solvay Ventures is currently investing out of a €80 million global evergreen fund. Solvay Ventures targets early stage investment opportunities (Seed through Series B) with a focus on startups addressing better use of resources, energy transition, increased well-being, and digital age. Beyond capital, Solvay Ventures looks to leverage the resources at Solvay to help accelerate technology and market adoption.

Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end-markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its lightweighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources, and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 24,500 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were €10.3 billion in 2018, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world’s top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR), and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program. (Figures take into account the planned divestment of Polyamides).

Invizius With its proprietary H-Guard™ biotechnology, Invizius is addressing the life-threatening complications of dialysis, and other extra-corporeal treatments, that affect millions of patients. The business is a spin-out from world-class research carried out at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, having been funded by Scottish Enterprise's prestigious High-Growth Spinout Programme. Mercia Asset Management and Solvay Ventures are lead investors.
www.invizius.com