UAE-based multinational conglomerate Crescent Enterprises has co-led a US$30 million Series C funding round for XCath, a pioneering medical robotics startup. The investment, which brings XCath’s total capital raised to US$92 million, is earmarked for the continued development and future commercialisation of its advanced endovascular surgical robot.
The round was co-led by Crescent Enterprises and Dr. Fred Moll, the chairman of XCath’s board and a renowned figure in the field of medical robotics.
Revolutionizing Stroke Treatment Through Telerobotics
XCath is at the forefront of developing telerobotic solutions to address critical bottlenecks in healthcare, particularly in the treatment of strokes. The company is developing its Iris robotic system for telerobotic mechanical thrombectomy—a procedure to remove blood clots from brain arteries during a stroke.
The need for such technology is driven by a global shortage of neurointerventional specialists, with an estimated 10,000 more required worldwide. This scarcity creates a significant care gap, with studies showing that fewer than 10% of eligible stroke patients in the U.S. currently receive mechanical thrombectomy.
In a landmark achievement, surgeons successfully used the XCath Iris system in November 2023 at The Panama Clinic to treat complex brain aneurysms, marking one of the first-ever intracranial neurovascular interventions performed by a surgical robot.
MENA’s Growing Role in Global MedTech
Crescent Enterprises’ investment highlights the region’s increasing strategic focus on deep-tech and medical technology. This is further underscored by XCath’s own operational ties to the region, having previously conducted a successful remote system test between Abu Dhabi and South Korea on a silicone model.
By enabling specialists to perform complex procedures remotely, XCath’s technology can dramatically expand access to life-saving care. This supports a “hub-and-spoke” model where experts at central “hub” hospitals can operate on patients at smaller, robot-equipped “spoke” sites, a model with significant potential for the MENA region’s diverse geography.
A New Era for Accessible Care
Telerobotics promises to make advanced stroke treatment more accessible and affordable. Building comprehensive stroke centers is a capital-intensive endeavor, often requiring biplane angiography systems that can cost over US$2-3 million.
XCath’s system is designed to be compatible with standard monoplane imaging equipment, which could significantly reduce the imaging infrastructure costs for hospitals looking to offer advanced stroke care. This innovation, combined with the ability for remote operation, could democratize access to critical neurovascular treatments globally.
About XCath
Founded in 2017, XCath is a medical device company with campuses in Houston, USA, and Pangyo, South Korea. The company is dedicated to developing next-generation endovascular robotic systems and medical devices designed to provide physicians with enhanced capabilities and expand access to minimally invasive treatments for neurovascular conditions.
Source: Tech in Asia
