Vitalnext Closes Series-B Financing Round to Market its Innovative Medical Nutrition Product
October 7, 2020. Vitalnext Products BV announces that its current investors, including the Van Herk Group, OostNL, and Hanzepoort BV, have participated in a series-B investment round to launch its innovative medical nutrition product (“VitalNext”) on the Dutch and international markets.
Vitalnext Products BV has developed VitalNext as an easy-to-use powder that is highly suitable as a treatment for disease-related malnutrition, particularly to combat loss of muscle mass and muscle function. The prevalence of malnutrition in The Netherlands is similar to that in other European countries, and continues to be high. Recent studies show that 32% of community dwelling patients receiving homecare are undernourished1.
VitalNext is based on strong scientific preclinical and clinical studies. Its use, in comparison to existing products, leads to relatively more build-up of muscle mass, and improved gait speed. This is clinically very relevant, as loss of muscle mass, and reduced walking speed, are strongly associated with reduced general health status. In this respect, VitalNext represents a breakthrough in the treatment of malnourished patients.
While the initial launch of VitalNext will take place in The Netherlands, it is expected that other markets will soon follow. To this end, Vinalnext also announces that it has strengthened its Management Team by the addition of Sander Ketelaar, CEO of NutriMedical, and former Managing Director of Nutricia The Netherlands, who has broad experience in developing medical nutrition businesses in a wide range of countries.
Rein Strijker, CEO of Vitalnext Products BV: “I am very pleased that that we have been able to develop a product all the way from a conceptual idea to the market. After closing of this financing round, we are now well positioned for the actual launch of the product. VitalNext will soon be available not only for malnourished elderly, but for all patients who suffer from muscle loss and muscle weakness, including those recovering from COVID-19. The addition of Sander Ketelaar to the team will lead to the creation of further commercial opportunities outside The Netherlands, and I welcome him to our Company.“
Rudy Mareel, Executive Chairman of Vitalnext Products BV: “The continued support of our shareholders has made it possible to bring a truly innovative product to a market where innovation has been very limited for the last decades. Despite the large, worldwide, medical need for nutritional products that effectively address the muscle-related problems of malnourished patients, the development of such products has lagged behind. We are confident that VitalNext will provide new options for these patients, and will improve the outcome of their treatment”
The development of VitalNext was co-funded through innovation grants from the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs) and the Rabobank, and through investments of the Van Herk Group, OostNL, LRM en Hanzepoort.
1 Van der Pols-Vijlbrief et al. (2016). Factors associated with (risk of) undernutrition in community dwelling older adults receiving home care: A cross-sectional study in The Netherlands. Public Health Nutrition, 19(12), p.2278-2289.
For further information, please contact:
Rein Strijker
r.strijker@vitalnext.com
+31 6 5391 2661
www.vitalnext.com
