Bridge to Life Ltd., a leader in organ preservation, has successfully secured $110 million in a Series C and debt financing round. The funding, led by new investor Soleus Capital, will accelerate the commercial rollout of its VitaSmart™ Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion (HOPE) System. This capital infusion is set to expand the company's market reach and advance its innovative product pipeline for organ transplantation.
Accelerating Commercial Expansion
A significant portion of the proceeds will fuel the U.S. launch of the VitaSmart™ system, which received FDA clearance in January 2026. The company plans to expand its field team and increase working capital to meet the high demand from transplant centers nationwide. This strategic investment aims to make the technology accessible to every major U.S. transplant facility seeking to modernize its capabilities.
The VitaSmart™ system is the first and only FDA-authorized hypothermic oxygenated perfusion system for use in liver transplantation. It directly addresses the critical shortage of viable organs for the more than 100,000 patients on U.S. transplant waitlists. By improving organ preservation, the technology helps expand the donor pool and ultimately aims to save more lives.
Investor Confidence and Market Leadership
Ben Lund of Soleus Capital stated that the investment was driven by Bridge to Life's unique market position. The firm combines an established preservation business with a newly cleared perfusion platform that is already seeing rapid adoption. This powerful combination is considered unmatched within the organ transplant technology sector, signaling strong future potential.
Lauxera Capital Partners co-founder Samuel Levy highlighted the company's success in bringing a promising technology to routine clinical practice. He noted that VitaSmart's ease of use, accessible price, and excellent clinical outcomes will accelerate machine perfusion adoption. This will ultimately save lives while reducing costs for the healthcare system, reinforcing the investment's value.
Innovating Organ Viability Assessment
Bridge to Life is also advancing a first-in-class, science-based tool to assess organ viability more accurately. Currently, decisions to accept or decline organs rely on subjective clinical judgment and surrogate measures. This new tool is being developed to provide a more definitive, objective evaluation to augment traditional methods.
The goal is to provide surgeons with objective data, giving them the confidence to accept marginal or extended-criteria organs. This could significantly reduce the number of discarded organs and standardize acceptance practices across different transplant centers. The tool represents a major step toward setting a new industry standard in transplant medicine.
Future Growth and Pipeline Development
The remaining capital will fund the expansion of Bridge to Life's product portfolio beyond liver applications. The company plans to develop preservation and perfusion solutions for other solid organs over the next three years. Additionally, it is developing next-generation closed systems to streamline transport and support global commercial expansion.
Proceeds were also used to refinance an existing credit facility, significantly reducing the company's leverage and interest expenses. This financial restructuring reflects Bridge to Life's evolution from a development-stage entity to a fully commercial organization. CEO Don Webber expressed appreciation for the previous financial support that enabled the company's initial growth and FDA clearance.
This $110 million financing marks a pivotal moment for Bridge to Life, reinforcing its leadership in the organ preservation market. The investment will not only scale the adoption of its groundbreaking VitaSmart™ system but also fuel a pipeline of innovations. Ultimately, this strategic funding empowers the company to advance its mission of making more life-saving organs available to patients in need.