15x return for The North West Fund for Biomedical
- May 9, 2023
- 2 min read
Cerus Endovascular (“Cerus”), a medical technology company that makes products to treat haemorrhagic strokes, has announced its acquisition by Stryker Corporation, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies.
Cerus’ products, Contour and Neqstent, have been successful in treating brain aneurysms. Aneurysms are weaknesses in the blood vessel wall, which can bleed or burst, leading to a possible stroke and in turn, death.
The company's products have been sold in Germany, Austria, the UK and the US, where Contour is undergoing trials to allow for a full launch.
Cerus relocated to the Liverpool City Region in 2013 at which point SPARK Impact Ltd (who have operationally merged with River Capital) made the first of two early-stage investments via the North West Fund for Biomedical followed by a second round of funding in 2014.
In 2015, Cerus expanded into California where they now operate from a 12,000 sq.ft facility as well as offices in Oxford.
The recent completion of the Stryker Corporation acquisition sees a substantial initial payment to the North West Fund for Biomedical with further payments expected across two years, subject to milestones.
River Capital and SPARK Impact Portfolio Director Jerry Mobbs commented on the acquisition: “We are delighted that Stryker’s acquisition of Cerus has now been completed, securing a significant first payment for the North West Fund for Biomedical.
"With further milestone payments expected, the fund is in line to receive a return on its initial investment in excess of 15x, which is a fantastic result for all involved.
"We now look forward to Stryker moving the business further forward and will watch its progress with great interest.”
River Capital and SPARK Impact Head of Venture Marc d’Abbadie said: “The River team extends its congratulations to everyone at Cerus and Stryker.
"Cerus’ products save lives. The company has also created high-value Knowledge Economy jobs and handsomely rewarded its early backers.
"The Cerus exit is a welcome reminder of the impact that early-stage regional seed investing can have."
Pictured (left to right): Neil Morrey (The North West Fund, COO), Mark Borzomato (River Capital, CEO) and Marc d'Abbadie (River Capital, Head of Venture).
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What an incredible success story - a 15x return on an early-stage biomedical investment is genuinely inspiring and proves how transformative regional funding can be when it backs the right innovation. Cerus Endovascular's journey from Liverpool to California, developing life-saving treatments for brain aneurysms, is a brilliant example of science meeting purpose. It's a reminder that investing in healthcare not only generates strong financial returns but also creates real-world impact - saving lives and building high-value jobs in the process. This kind of outcome resonates broadly, much like how targeted support in any specialised field leads to outsized results. Even in education, students tackling niche topics like childcare assignment help understand that focused, expert-backed guidance can make an enormous difference…
What a remarkable milestone — a 15x return is a testament to the power of backing the right innovation at the right time. The Cerus story is genuinely inspiring, not just for investors but for anyone who believes that regional funding can fuel world-changing healthcare solutions. The fact that an early investment in Liverpool helped bring life-saving stroke treatments to patients across the UK, Germany, and the US is exactly the kind of impact that makes biomedical venture capital so compelling. It also raises fascinating questions about how companies like Cerus positioned themselves to attract major acquirers like Stryker — something that cuts across finance, strategy, and even Marketing Dissertation Topics around brand positioning in highly regulated industries. Huge congratulations…