Manus secures £2.6m to support the commercialisation of NeuroMotor PenTM

Manus Neurodynamica Limited (“Manus”), which develops and markets products and technologies for neuromotor assessment, announces that it has closed a £2.6m funding round to support the commercialisation of its innovative NeuroMotor Pen^TM which provides an early warning of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions.

Existing investors supported the £2.6m investment round including the North East Innovation Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, and managed by Northstar Ventures leading the round, joined by Social Investment Scotland Ventures, Par Equity, Scottish Investment Bank and Old College Capital.

The funding will allow Manus to continue its launch into the pharmacy retail sector focused on prevention screening in the EU and clinical markets, helping differentiate between Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, aiding the patient pathway and reducing costs. Manus has already made solid progress here having signed an agreement earlier this month with Medispa, an Italian provider of wellness management systems and services, to integrate the NeuroMotor Pen^TM with Medispa’s Prevention Suite, an integrated platform of health services aimed at monitoring the health and well-being status of patients. The funds will also go towards the Company’s efforts towards US FDA regulatory clearance and progressing its US trials, as well as further developing and implementing its US commercialisation strategy.   

In addition, the Company recently announced it has received funding from Johnson & Johnson Innovation to further the utility of the NeuroMotor Pen^TM into immunotherapy. Although funding has been received directly from J&J to run a clinical trial for the detection of neuromotor adverse effects following CAR T-cell therapy, the funding round will support optimising the configuration of the NeuroMotor Pen^TM for this utility. In addition, it will support advancement of utilisation of the pen across other neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.  

Dr Rutger Zietsma, CEO of Manus, commented: “I’d like to thank Manus’ existing investors for supporting the Company’s commercialisation programme of our unique NeuroMotor Pen^TM, building on previous support we received in 2021. This year is set to be an exciting one, with partnerships already secured, and we truly believe our non-invasive and CE-marked product can have a huge impact on patients and tackle the unmet need for a quick, inexpensive device that can detect neurological conditions, particularly given the aging global population.”

Richard Charnley, Investment Director of Northstar Ventures, stated: “At Northstar Ventures we back businesses that are reimagining the future of healthcare, with a particular focus on healthy ageing. Having just relocated within the region from Durham to Gosforth in Newcastle with a current team of four, we are excited by the potential impact Manus can have on those with neurological conditions and we were delighted to further support its mission.”