Pascal Medical raises $3.8M to move ClickGel sealant toward human trials
What's the deal? Pascal Medical CorporationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised $3.8 million to advance its ClickGel surgical sealant through pivotal large animal testing on the way to human trials. The total combines a $3 million private financing round closed in July 2026 with an $800,000 grant from Virginia CatalystDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, announced by Governor Abigail Spanberger on July 30, 2026.
What does it do? ClickGel is an injectable, biodegradable hydrogel that seals the dura — the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord — after planned surgical openings or incidental tears. The Richmond-based company develops biomaterial solutions for cranial and spinal surgery, orthopedics, and infection management.
The round details: Pascal initially set out to raise $1.5 million and closed at twice that amount, with existing stakeholders joined by new investors. "Doubling our target and welcoming new investors alongside our existing supporters is a strong vote of confidence," said chief executive officer Tom Gardner.
Where the money goes: The funding supports a GLP preclinical large animal study already underway at Colorado State University, GMP manufacturing scale-up, and the company's modular Investigational Device Exemption submission to the FDA.
Why now? The Virginia Catalyst grant backs the preclinical work Pascal needs before moving to a human study. "It allows us to move ClickGel into critical surgical testing and accelerate our timeline toward FDA submission," Gardner said.
Who's behind it? ClickGel was co-invented by chief scientific officer Barbara D. Boyan, a member of the National Academy of Engineering who previously chaired the FDA's Orthopaedic Device Panel. Pascal is also working with Justin Smith, chief of the spine division at the University of Virginia.
The signal: The raise reflects continued investor and state backing for Virginia's medical device sector, positioning the Commonwealth as a hub for developing clinical-stage surgical innovation.
Read more: Virginia Bio
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
