AXA backs Novocuff

Developer of medical devices designed to prevent preterm birth Novocuff has raised $26 million in a Series A funding round led by AXA Investment Managers , with Avestria Ventures, Laborie Medical Technologies, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, March of Dimes, and RH Capital as participants.

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and cervical shortening are leading causes of preterm birth, affecting millions of families worldwide each year. Novocuff has developed a medical device aimed at stabilizing and closing the cervix to retain amniotic fluid and sustain cervical length, with the goal of extending pregnancy.

“We are thrilled to have the support of a strong and mission-aligned group of investors as we enter this exciting next phase of clinical development. This funding catalyzes our ability to deliver a solution to a healthcare need for women, and their families and healthcare providers.” – Amelia “Amy” Degenkolb, CEO & Co-founder of Novocuff.

“As the leading cause of infant mortality globally, preterm birth is a serious unaddressed global health issue. The near and long-term negative impacts on the patient, and the economic burden on health systems, have created a pressing and dire situation. Given the lack of solutions currently available to address this significant global health challenge, we are thrilled to directly contribute to Novocuff’s mission to improve pregnancy outcomes. We have followed Novocuff since its founding and are excited about the company’s progress and clinical data generated to date. Our investment should enable completion of a U.S. pivotal trial and the introduction of the Novocuff device to global markets, including low- and middle-income countries. This aligns with our commitment at AXA IM Alts of generating measurable and positive healthcare outcomes alongside attractive long-term financial returns for our investors.” – Curt LaBelle, Head of Healthcare Private Equity at AXA IM Alts.