Dialybrid, an Italian life science company based in Cantù, has announced a €15 million Series A financing round alongside the successful first-in-human implant of its Silkothane® Arteriovenous Graft. The device is designed to serve as a durable vascular access for hemodialysis in patients with end-stage kidney disease. The announcement marks a key milestone for the company as it advances a novel solution for a significant clinical need.
Series A Funding and Strategic Goals
The financing was led by new investor XGEN Venture with participation from CDP Venture Capital. It will fund clinical development of the Silkothane® Arteriovenous Graft as a hemodialysis vascular access and support preclinical development of the material in other vascular applications. The company announced the round on September 22, 2026, from its headquarters in Cantù.
Investor Perspectives
Daniele Scarinci, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at XGEN Venture, said the investment reflects a focus on Italian life science companies developing best-in-class solutions for high unmet medical needs. He noted that XGEN Venture looks forward to supporting Dialybrid through clinical development and toward regulatory approval. Caterina Siclari, Head of Rilancio Fund at CDP Venture Capital, added that Silkothane® has the potential to improve patient outcomes and redefine standards of care.
A Hybrid Technology for Hemodialysis Access
Silkothane® Arteriovenous Graft is a novel hybrid arteriovenous graft engineered to integrate into patient vessels. It is intended to provide a safe, easy-to-cannulate, and durable access option for hemodialysis. The technology addresses important limitations of existing vascular access methods by aiming to combine faster usability with improved long-term performance.
First-in-Human Clinical Milestone
The first-in-human clinical trial is enrolling patients in Italy, and the first implant has been successfully completed. Coordinating principal investigator Prof. Matteo Tozzi, MD, performed the procedure in Varese, where he leads the Vascular Surgery Department at ASST Sette Laghi and serves as Professor of Vascular Surgery at Insubria University. He highlighted the ease of implant in the first patient and the graft's potential to offer shorter cannulation time than native fistulas and longer durability than available synthetic grafts.
Clinical Need and Market Context
Over half a million vascular access procedures for hemodialysis are performed each year in the European Union and United States. These procedures involve either implanting a synthetic arteriovenous graft or surgically creating a native arteriovenous fistula. Synthetic grafts allow faster access to hemodialysis but have lower long-term durability and a higher infection risk, while fistulas are more durable but require longer maturation.
About 60 percent of synthetic arteriovenous grafts and 40 percent of native fistulas fail within the first year. This high failure rate underscores the substantial unmet need for safe and durable vascular access solutions. Dialybrid's Silkothane® graft is designed to address this gap by providing a more balanced option for patients and vascular surgeons.
Next Steps and Industry Presence
Dialybrid Chief Technology Officer Stefania A. Riboldi will attend the LSI Europe '26 Emerging Medtech Summit on September 29, 2026. The company plans to use the new financing to continue generating clinical evidence and prepare for future regulatory milestones. Continued enrollment in the pilot trial will provide further insights into the graft's safety and performance.
The €15 million Series A and the first-in-human implant represent significant progress for Dialybrid as it develops Silkothane® for hemodialysis vascular access. With support from XGEN Venture and CDP Venture Capital, the company is well positioned to advance its clinical program and explore broader vascular applications. Early clinical momentum and a clear unmet need suggest that this technology could play an important role in improving outcomes for patients with end-stage kidney disease.