Alumna Petra van den Elsen, CEO and co-founder of Akeso Medical Imaging is delighted to announce that the organisation has been successful in securing finance to develop an imaging device for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity monitoring and control.

The funding, led by Thuja Capital Healthcare Seed Fund and topped up by the Brabant Spin-Off Fund and Point-One Innovation Fund will be used to develop the imaging system and software, its clinical validation and for obtaining regulatory approval in Europe.

Petra said 'In tough economic times funding a new company is far from easy. This financing round is a real testimony to the potential of our technology and the work of the Akeso team so far. We are very excited to move this technology forward to clinical use. Monitoring of inflammation allows for fine-tuning of the treatment of RA, leading to earlier remission, fewer inflammatory episodes and less pain for patients, in the long term reducing functional and economic loss and lowering healthcare costs.'

Pascal Prins, Senior Investment Manager at Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij commented 'Akeso's technology is expected to generate significant advantages not only with respect to patients' discomfort, but also regarding the efficiency of the rheumatologist practice. Both reduce health care costs, which is important in modern society'.