Distalmotion, the company behind Dexter, raises $90 million in funding

The Dexter surgical robotics system from Distalmotion. | Source: Distalmotion

Distalmotion, the company behind the surgical robot Dexter, announced it raised $90 million in Series E funding.

The Swiss company plans to use the funding to commercialize Dexter globally. Dexter has been CE marked since December 2020, and Distalmotion has plans to submit the robotics system for FDA approval with support from the funding.

Dexter was created to make the surgeon the central point of procedures. Its two robotic arms can be individually re-aligned to change trocal sites during surgery. The robotic surgical system also has fully articulated instruments for suturing and dissection, and an integrated robotic endoscope holder, with the endoscope arm being controlled by the surgeon console.

“Dexter combines the best of both worlds – laparoscopy and robotics – to make sense of robotic surgery,” Distalmotion CEO Michael Friedrich said. “By addressing essential problems that operating room teams face, we can deliver on our mission to fast-track widespread adoption of robotic surgery in minimally invasive care. We are thrilled to have found the best-fitting partners to execute and deliver on this global purpose.”

Revival Healthcare Capital led the funding round, which also included participation from 415 Capital and previous investors. Rick Anderson, the chairman of Revival, will be joining the Distalmotion board as chairman.

Distalmotion runs an early adopter program and clinical studies for hospitals in Europe, which helps the company develop procedure guidelines and training protocols.

In July 2021, Distalmotion launched a clinical study at Lausanne University Hospital. There, the company performed its first hybrid robotic general surgery.

“This is a fundamentally new approach to robotic surgery,” Professor Dieter Hahnloser, who heads colorectal surgery at Lausanne University Hospital and general surgery procedure with Dexter, said. “Dexter’s open platform and the ability to switch quickly between standard laparoscopy and the robot give me an added sense of control and the freedom of choice to use the best instruments available for the job. To have these benefits while remaining sterile, with direct access to patient and robot, indicates Dexter can be a gamechanger in ORs around the world.”