Australis Scientific, a Sydney MedTech making wearable patches, has raised almost $10 million to accelerate trials and regulatory approval bids for devices that could help hundreds of millions of people.
The company makes band aid sized patches that reduces the systems of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence with gentle vibrations.
Overactive bladder occurs when the muscles of the bladder start to tighten on their own, causing a string urgency to urinate. It is most common in people 65 and older and gets worse without treatment.
Nerve treatments have typically required implanting small devices under the skin that send electrical impulses to a nerve in the lower back or ankle.
Australis Scientific has developed Confidanz, a small patch worn on the ankle that creates gentle tibial nerve stimulation to calm the bladder, and can be monitored through an app.
The company’s approach is undergoing its first human clinical trial and has the potential to reduce invasive surgeries and waste from disposable incontinence products.
The funding of US$6 million led by Japanese-listed healthcare giant Rohto Pharmaceutical will accelerate the trial and support Australis Scientific’s regulatory bids in Australia, the US and Japan.
Around 12.5 million Japanese adults are among 400 million people worldwide that suffer from overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.
Australis Scientific founder Nicky Agahari said Rohto represents a “transformational” partnership for the local startup.
“Not only does it provide the capital we need to scale our clinical program, but it also opens the door to Japan and broader Asia – markets where aging populations mean demand for bladder health solutions is urgent and growing,” he said.
The 76-year-old Osaka headquartered multinational produces consumer goods and pharmaceuticals around the world, including two plants in Japan. The Australis Scientific funding is one of its first ventures into medical devices.
“Rohto invested in Australis Scientific because their smart patch offers a scalable, patient-centric way to treat overactive bladder at home, in line with our focus on healthy longevity,” Rohto Pharmaceutical president Hidetoshi Segi said.
“We believe this combination of neuromodulation and digital therapeutics can create a new category in urinary incontinence care.”
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