Ceryx Medical

Ceryx Medical is a biomedical company developing a new class of bioelectronic therapeutic devices aimed at treating chronic conditions, with an initial focus on heart failure. The company was established in 2016 as a spin-out from the Universities of Bath and Bristol, founded by Professor Alain Nogaret, Professor Julian Paton, and Dr. Stuart Plant. The foundation of the company stems from research programs at these universities, with CEO Dr. Plant bringing experience from GE Healthcare and IP Group, where he identified promising technologies from academic institutions.

The core of Ceryx Medical’s technology is a proprietary chip that mimics the body's natural nerve centers, known as Central Pattern Generators (CPGs). These CPGs control rhythmic bodily processes like heart rate and breathing. By creating artificial CPGs, Ceryx's devices can interpret the body's physiological signals in real-time and generate a natural, coordinated response. This approach differs from traditional pacemakers that operate at a fixed, metronomic beat. Ceryx's technology allows for variable control of the heart's rhythm in response to factors like breathing, which synchronizes heart and lung function and has been shown in pre-clinical studies to increase cardiac output by 20-25%.

The company's lead product, named Cysoni, is a cardiac pacing device designed to treat heart failure. Cysoni continuously monitors the patient's cardiorespiratory system and delivers precisely timed impulses to optimize the heart's rhythm. This has the potential to not only improve cardiac performance and alleviate symptoms but also to repair the structure of damaged heart cells and reverse cardiac remodeling. The company is developing both a temporary external device for post-operative recovery and a permanent implantable version for long-term management of chronic heart failure. The business model appears to be focused on developing and commercializing these medical devices, potentially through direct sales or by licensing the technology to other device makers. While the initial market is heart failure, the underlying CPG technology has potential applications for other conditions such as hypertension and spinal cord injuries.

Ceryx has secured significant funding to advance its technology through clinical trials. After an initial seed round of £575,000 in 2020, the company raised £3.8 million in 2022 to initiate first-in-human trials. More recently, in June 2025, Ceryx closed a £5 million funding round, bringing its total funds raised to approximately $15 million (£11 million), to further develop its permanent pacemaker and continue clinical evaluations. Key investors include the Development Bank of Wales, Parkwalk Advisors, BGF, and Icehouse Ventures.

Keywords: bioelectronic medicine, cardiac pacing, heart failure treatment, Central Pattern Generators, CPG technology, medical devices, implantable devices, cardiac rhythm management, Cysoni, cardiorespiratory synchronization, therapeutic devices, biomimetic electronics, arrhythmia, medtech, Stuart Plant, Alain Nogaret, Julian Paton, Development Bank of Wales, Parkwalk Advisors, BGF