Akura Medical, a portfolio company of Shifamed focused on venous thromboembolism (VTE) care, announced a $53 million first close in Series C financing. Led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) with participation from existing investors, the funding will accelerate development of the Katana™ Thrombectomy System and NavIQ™ quantification software, complete enrollment in the QUADRA-PE clinical study, and support key regulatory submissions. Part of the capital will also fund a joint venture in Qatar.
Amr Salahieh, Chair and Acting CEO of Akura Medical and founder of Shifamed, emphasized, “Akura Medical is advancing a differentiated portfolio of venous thrombectomy technologies aimed at improving procedural precision and patient outcomes. This new capital enables us to accelerate product development and continue building the foundation for long-term growth.”
The Katana System is an intelligent thrombectomy platform designed to remove diverse clot types efficiently, leveraging high-velocity saline jets to prevent catheter clogging and sensors that provide real-time pulmonary artery pressure feedback. Meanwhile, NavIQ converts CT angiograms into 3D pulmonary vasculature models, assisting in pre-procedural planning and clot characterization for optimized treatment decisions.
Editorial Perspective: Setting new standards in VTE care
VTE remains the third leading cause of cardiovascular death in the U.S., highlighting the urgency for improved interventions. Akura Medical’s dual approach—combining hardware precision with advanced imaging software—positions it to redefine pulmonary embolism treatment and procedural efficiency.
The company’s leadership under Amr Salahieh demonstrates a rare convergence of medical insight and entrepreneurial execution. By securing strategic backing from QIA and building a joint venture in Qatar, Akura Medical is not only expanding its product footprint but also establishing an international operational presence, which is critical for future growth and patient access.
The integration of real-time procedural data with pre-operative modeling through Katana and NavIQ suggests a broader shift in interventional cardiology toward intelligent, data-driven solutions. Investors and healthcare partners are recognizing that such platforms could significantly enhance patient outcomes and procedural reliability in high-stakes vascular interventions.
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