Israeli Heart Valve Developer V-Wave Raises $28M

January 14, 2016 | Israeli startup V-Wave raked in $28 million in Series B financing for its implantable device for heart failure. New investors such as Johnson & Johnson’s venture capital arm, TriVentures, Pura Vida Investments and BioStar Ventures, as well as existing investors including BRM Group, Pontifax and Edwards Lifesciences participated in the round, which will help the company through the process of gaining regulatory approvals and initial commercialization in the US. Founded in 2010 and led by CEO Neal Eigler, V-Wave has developed a valve made from porcine tissue, which pushed excess blood away from the left ventricle (the heart’s main pump), to regulate pressure and prevent blood clots in patients.