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Ebenbuild receives 2.5 million euros for further development of its digital lung twin

Ebenbuild founder Prof. Wolfgang Wall, Dr. Karl-Robert Wichmann, Dr. Jonas Biehler and Dr. Kei Müller (from left) © Ebenbuild

Munich-based health tech start-up Ebenbuild has closed a seed funding round of EUR 2.5 million. With the fresh capital, Ebenbuild aims to further develop its digital lung twins, personalized simulation models based on patient data to improve the treatment of intensive care patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Lead investors are High-Tech Gründerfonds and Bayern Kapital, the venture and growth capital organisation of the state of Bavaria.

ARDS (“Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome“) is a serious, often fatal lung condition that patients usually develop as a result of other illnesses. It affects one in ten ICU patients and some 23 percent of patients on ventilators – and more than three million people worldwide each year. Despite medical advances, around 40 percent of patients still die due to respiratory failure. Despite medical advances, about 40 percent of those with the disease die of lung failure.
COVID-19 is increasing the numbers even further: More than 80 percent of all deaths following SARS-CoV-2 infection can be attributed to acute respiratory failure.

Digital lung twin for improved therapy

Start-up Ebenbuild aims to permanently and significantly improve treatment options for ARDS - with a digital lung twin. The company was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich by Dr. Kei Müller, Dr. Jonas Biehler, Prof. Wolfgang Wall and Dr. Karl-Robert Wichmann. It has developed a technology that combines physics-based simulation and AI methods. Based on medical imaging, a virtual, patient-specific model of the lungs is created, which should enable improved ventilation as well as optimized therapy.

"We strongly believe that our product is ready for clinical application after many years of preparation and over 15 years of international, cutting-edge research. Our job now is to utilise this new funding to advance the further development of our prototype so that we’re ultimately ready to launch on the market and are able to gain medicinal product approval," says Ebenbuild Managing Director and CEO Dr. Kei Müller.

Dr. Georg Ried, one of the two managing directors of Bayern Kapital, appreciates Ebenbuild's many years of expertise in biomechanics, artificial intelligence, software engineering and research, which makes Ebenbuild an attractive partner for both clinical institutions and biotech companies.

Also investor Niels Sharman from High-Tech Gründerfonds is convinced by Ebenbuild's approach. The start-up addresses a very relevant problem in mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. Not only patients can benefit from the solution, but also doctors and clinics, as it is intended to reduce lung damage, shorten hospital stays and thus also reduce costs.


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