Oxford Medical Products develops Sirona, an oral hydrogel tablet that expands in the stomach to reduce hunger and suppress appetite. The company has raised £2.5M in equity to conduct the first human trials of Sirona in partnership with Southampton and Bristol University Hospitals. Funding will also be used to develop line extensions targeting patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to begin research on a drug-delivery platform built on its core hydrogel IP. Sirona is positioned as a non-invasive, at-home alternative to gastric balloon procedures: tablets can be taken at home, remain in the stomach for several weeks, then break down and pass naturally. Oxford Medical Products was founded in 2017 by Professor Jan Czenurska and Dr Hutan Ashrafian; Dr Camilla Easter is CEO and Dr Nick Edwards joined to help commercialize the technology. Oxford Medical Products (OMP) is developing Sirona, a self-expanding hydrogel capsule that expands in the stomach to occupy space, reduce hunger, and drive significant weight loss. Sirona is designed to mimic the mechanism of a gastric balloon but can be swallowed and used at home rather than placed endoscopically. The capsules expand rapidly, provide continuous 24/7 satiety for several weeks, then gradually break down and pass naturally to preserve safety. OMP positions Sirona as a lower-cost alternative to surgical solutions, with the intention of making effective weight-loss treatment accessible to many more people. The company is currently completing pre-clinical testing, plans first human studies in 2022, and aims to launch a commercial product in 2024. OMP has begun scaling operations and hiring, including recruiting a polymer scientist to advance its platform technology.

Total raised

$5M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Mar 2022