September 8, 2010: Phagenesis Limited, a leader in technology for the treatment of swallowing dysfunction, has raised £2 million of investment to support the development of a new class of treatments for stroke patients who suffer from dysphagia, a common condition that prevents or impairs the safe swallowing of food and drink. The company, which was spun out from The University of Manchester, has been successful in rapidly attracting funding from a number of experienced investors.
The Phagenesis treatment involves a device that delivers electrical pulses to the throat region that can ‘awaken’ the brain to help restore swallowing function. At least 50 per cent of stroke victims have impaired swallowing. Apart from a severe reduction in quality of life, dysphagia often leads to the inhalation of liquids and the development of life-threatening pneumonia. In addition, the financial burden of dysphagia can run to thousands of pounds per patient in the first few weeks alone, and may continue indefinitely if the patient’s swallowing is not restored.
Dr Conor Mulrooney, COO, and Professor Shaheen Hamdy founded Phagenesis in 2007. Prof Hamdy, the inventor of the technology, is Professor of Gastroenterology at Salford Royal Hospital NHS Trust and was previously Fellow at the Sobell Department of Neurophysiology, UCL.
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