According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 17.9 million people die from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) annually, with 85% of them caused by heart attacks and strokes. One way to detect heart detects is through the use of Cardiovascular Occluders. Existing occluders, however, come in a fixed shape that does not fit the varied anatomy of individual patients. Occlufit, a spin-off of the University of Zurich founded in 2018 has designed an adaptable cardiovascular occluder device that enables defects, whether congenital or acquired, to be repaired and immediately sealed. To progress with its development, Occlufit has obtained capital from the UZH Life Sciences Fund (LSF) - a joint initiative of the University of Zurich and the Novartis Venture Fund. Under the expert guidance of Professor Francesco Maisano, Head of the Heart Center of UniversitätsSpital Zürich, the startup’s team comprising Monica Tocchi (CEO), Andrea Guidotti (COO) and Amir Gross (CFO) will now proceed with developing and designing their device to treat patients with a minimally invasive percutaneous approach to prevent heart failure and stroke. The solution will also conform to complex geometries. Occlufit is the fifth portfolio company joining the LSF after EraCal Therapeutics, ImmunOs Therapeutics AG, Anaveon and Cutiss AG. (RAN)Picture: Occlufit