Biotech NADMED raises €3.5M series A for 'NAD' vitals testing

Finnish biotech company NADMED has raised €3.5M for its blood testing technology. The round was led by Finnish science-based startup investor Nordic Science Investments (NSI). Additional funding was secured from previous investors Voima Ventures and University of Helsinki Funds, from a number of private European investors, and a grant from Business Finland.

The round will fund its entry into the U.S. and other international markets with its proprietary nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) measurement technology that may help clinicians establish more precise and personalized treatments for various diseases. 

The Helsinki-based company developed the first test to measure all four bodily forms of vitamin B3, called NADs, and glutathiones directly from fresh blood in hours to detect vitamin B3 deficiencies and prevent disease.

NADs are crucial molecules found in every cell of the body, playing a vital role in energy production, cellular repair, and growth, together with glutathiones (a powerful antioxidant in the body). Measuring NAD and glutathione levels is important because imbalances have been reported to be linked to various age-related health conditions, including metabolic disorders, cancer, heart and brain diseases, as well as muscle atrophy. 

Other stress factors, such as poor diet, post-inflammatory state, or treatment side effects, can also contribute to NAD levels decreasing. NAD measurement should also be considered for unexplained fatigue, muscle weakness, long Covid, or unexpected drug side effects. 

Based on years of research from Professor Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara’s laboratory at the University of Helsinki, NADMED’s testing method is the first on the market to measure all four NADs using fresh blood samples quickly and efficiently with the same accuracy as mass spectrometry. The technology is based on an accurate colorimetric quantification that can be performed even from a minuscule amount of blood. A similar measurement is done for glutathione forms from the same sample. 

Demand from physicians and the pharma industry for a quick and reliable test method has rapidly increased in recent years as researchers have found more links between NAD and glutathione (together called REDOX-metabolites) levels and various diseases. NADMED provides measuring kits for clinical laboratories and laboratory services to meetresearch, drug development, and clinical needs. 

“In the coming years, metabolism will be the hottest topic in medicine and biology, especially when applied to personalized health and disease understanding. In this dawning age of metabolism, NAD will be the new DNA,” said Jari Närhi, CEO and co-founder at NADMED. “We are pleased and grateful for the funding from theseinsightful investors to spread and further develop the unique technology to measure all REDOX metabolites - something that was not possible before. This investment will enable us to bring new capabilities to diagnostics, therapy monitoring, personalized medicine, and advancement of metabolic science for the benefit of mankind.” 

The effects of NAD boosters are not generally uniform between individuals, meaning that testing and optimizing NAD levels is imperative. In the future, NADMED’s solution could also enable better-targeted drug administration based on an individual’s metabolic type. 

“Investing in NADMED was a compelling choice for us, driven by the exceptional expertise of Professor Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, a globally recognized leader in metabolic disorders. For investors, the company’s diverse target market not only provides robust risk mitigation but also presents exciting growth opportunities across multiple sectors,” said Alexandra Gylfe, Founding Partner at NSI. “We are eager to leverage our strong U.S. science and biotech networks to support NADMED’s expansion into the U.S. market, enhancing their global footprint and driving further success in the years to come.”