Paris-based SafeHeal Raises $10M Series C Extension Funding

The funding round was led by Asabys Partners via its Sabadell Asabys II fund, alongside a syndicate including Sofinnova Partners, Solar Eclipse, Gideon Strategic Partners, Polis, and M&L Healthcare. The company will use the proceeds to advance its pivotal U.S. IDE study and prepare for Colovac’s commercial launch in the EU.

Richardson added, “Navigating the MDR process is no small feat… the EU regulators recognised the obvious clinical benefits Colovac provides to colorectal cancer patients.”

Led by CEO Chris Richardson, SafeHeal SAS and its U.S. subsidiary, SafeHeal Inc., develop Colovac a medical device designed as an alternative to diverting ostomies in colorectal surgery. The flexible endoluminal bypass sheath minimizes fecal contact at the anastomotic site, promoting safer recovery after surgery.

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The device is inserted endoluminally and is fully reversible, staying in place for about 10 days to support natural healing. It is removed endoscopically, avoiding a second surgery, allowing patients to return to normal life without the challenges of an ostomy. In the U.S., Colovac is currently restricted to investigational use.

In a conversation with TFN, SafeHeal’s President and CEO, Chris Richardson, highlights the significance: “Colorectal surgery has long relied on temporary stomas, which carry stigma, complications, and require additional surgeries. Colovac is designed to change that.”

SafeHeal was founded in 2015 by French digestive surgeon Dr. Charam Khosrovani through the medtech accelerator MD Start II. Dr. Khosrovani, a laureate of the French Surgical Academy, developed Colovac to improve outcomes in colorectal surgery.

Colovac® is a flexible, reversible bypass sheath placed endoluminally at the anastomotic site after surgery. It stays for about 10 days, protecting the area from fecal contamination during healing, and is removed via a simple endoscopic procedure, avoiding additional surgery.

The device eliminates the need for an ostomy helping patients return to normal life sooner without the physical or psychological impact of a stoma. With over 2 million colorectal resections performed globally each year, Colovac offers a groundbreaking alternative that improves recovery, reduces complications and lowers healthcare costs.

Colovac has earned FDA Breakthrough Device designation and European Union marketing approval under the Medical Device Regulation, highlighting SafeHeal’s unique position in the colorectal surgery market.

About SafeHeal

SafeHeal is changing how patients recover from colorectal surgery with Colovac®, a flexible, reversible bypass sheath. It protects the surgical site, avoids the need for an ostomy, speeds up healing, reduces complications and helps patients return to normal life faster, offering a simpler, more comfortable recovery experience.