“Once you are a clinical-stage company, my currency is the clinical data. The more you generate and the more you offer to your investors and your other stakeholders, the more value you generate in their eyes. Having these additional patient experiences that you can present from podiums and share at scientific meetings, is one way to indicate that you’ve clinically de-risked the concept and you are clinically de-risking company.”
Meet Nitin Salunke, President and CEO of Supira Medical, a Shifamed portfolio company that is developing a catheter-based heart pump designed to support patients undergoing high-risk coronary procedures. Last year, Supira raised $40 million in a Series D round and has already treated over 70 patients globally, paving the way for U.S. clinical trials.
Before Supira, Nitin held leadership roles at industry giants like Medtronic Neurovascular, where he spearheaded therapies for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, Cordis (then a Johnson & Johnson company, and W. L. Gore & Associates. He’s also an inventor and co-author on many patents and publications.
Here are the highlights from Nitin’s conversation with Scott Nelson
⚖️ Developing novel technology without predicates carries clinical risk. On the other hand, improving existing tech, or creating a next-gen device, comes with technical and/or commercial risk. Therefore, decide which risks you want to tackle and prioritize them appropriately to avoid overwhelm.
📊 Create value that resonates with all stakeholders—patients, physicians, and investors. Address risks step by step, keeping value creation at the core of every decision. If you can, choose clinical paths that give you more options, demonstrate progress, and use data to build credibility and attract investment.
🎯 Start with a clear end goal and focus on creating value that aligns with the needs of your customers, strategics, and investors. Be efficient with capital by ensuring your returns far outweigh your cash burn.
Click the link in the comments for the full interview.
This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments).
P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VII, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.
