Chalmers Ventures invests in Bioelectrix – groundbreaking technology to treat hard-to-heal wounds
Bioelectrix is a new portfolio company at Chalmers Ventures. The company is taking on a global health problem—hard-to-heal wounds—by developing a solution that, using electrical stimulation and advanced, cost-effective materials, can steer skin cells back into the healing process.
“This is a silent pandemic, statistically comparable to cancer, often linked to diabetes, aging, and obesity,”
Caroline Johansen, CEO
Bioelectrix is developing a new solution to treat hard-to-heal wounds, a global health problem that today affects more than 30 to 40 million people worldwide and costs healthcare systems billions annually. The costs of hard-to-heal wounds are estimated to account for two to three percent of total healthcare budgets. In the EU alone, the market is estimated at over 20 billion euros.
Today, each treatment costs an average of 15,000 euros, and in complications leading to amputation, the cost can double. The cost trend for healthcare is also rising due to increasing aging, overweight, and diabetes.
Chalmers Ventures sees significant market potential and major global benefit in the company’s technology.
“This is an extensive and complex problem that currently lacks an effective solution—and at the same time is one of healthcare’s major cost drivers. A solution would not only create significant value for healthcare systems, but also make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s the combination of societal benefit and market potential that makes it particularly interesting,”
Gia Kourouklidou, Pre-seed Investment & Venture Creation Manager at Chalmers Ventures.
Bioelectrix’s patent-pending solution is based on electrical stimulation combined with advanced, cost-effective materials that can steer skin cells back into the healing process. Preclinical results show up to three times faster wound healing, with the potential to halve healthcare costs while improving patients’ quality of life.
The innovation behind the company originated in research conducted by Maria Asplund, professor of bioelectronics, and Dr. José Leal, a researcher in biomedical engineering at Chalmers. When the company was founded, Caroline Johansen joined, holding a master’s degree in economics and entrepreneurship from OsloMet and Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship.
“In our research, we turned the perspective around and started from how the skin actually works,”
José Leal, CTO
Wound healing occurs in four stages and is largely governed by electromagnetic signals between cells. In hard-to-heal wounds, that process becomes short-circuited—the wound gets stuck in the healing process and never closes. Bioelectrix uses direct current to guide cells back onto the right path and restart healing.
“The electrodes consist of a combination of graphene and conductive polymers that function like an ion sponge, which enables us to deliver biocompatible direct current that mimics the body’s natural electrical signals,”
José Leal
“Several actors have tried to imitate how the body heals wounds without succeeding. With Bioelectrix, it is now possible.”
Bioelectrix has initiated preclinical trials on ex vivo skin in the United States. In parallel, regulatory activities are underway to enable approval for market launch in both Europe and the U.S. The company plans an initial market introduction in Europe—likely in Germany due to existing contacts—and then expand to the U.S. market.
“Our vision is that our solution becomes the new standard. It would save healthcare systems major costs and spare patients long and difficult suffering,”
