Finnish biotech firm NordShield raises €4.2 million

Finnish biotechnology company NordShield has raised investments of more than €4.2 million in its latest financing round.

The NordShield technology creates a physical layer on treated surfaces that works as a barrier against bacteria and viruses but cannot be seen or felt. Instead of commonly utilized heavy metals, the technology’s efficacy is based on fractions of wood derived from forest industry side streams, making the technology’s entire lifecycle and application environmentally sustainable.

The technique is currently available for treating fabrics and as a disinfection addition. To accelerate market entry and further develop the technology for broader application options, NordShield wants to enhance its sales, technical services, marketing, and regulatory resources.

CEO Kristoffer Ekman, said that they’re thrilled to welcome new investors on board and grateful for the ongoing faith of their existing investors. The monies raised will help them move closer to their goal of replacing heavy metals and other harmful chemicals with their uniquely sustainable alternative.

The NordShield technology is the result of more than a decade of research and development, which has resulted in three international patent families being submitted. It was created to address the environmental and health concerns associated with conventional antibacterial chemicals such as silver, copper, and zinc, which are already widely employed in the industry. Heavy metals are powerful antimicrobials, but they are also toxic to humans, accumulate in the environment, and are linked to antibacterial resistance.

The European Commission and its non-food Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks have already acknowledged the dangers of employing silver in antimicrobial treatments (SCENIHR). Additional prices and limitations on hazardous substances are being imposed by governments such as Sweden, indicating a market shift.

NordShield Pathogen Barrier is designed for medical and healthcare fabrics. It is a necessary component that improves the quality and effectiveness of textiles that are to be designated as medical devices under the Medical Device Regulation. MVA, a surrogate virus for enveloped viruses (e.g. SARS, MERS, Hepatitis, and influenza viruses), has shown over 99% efficacy against NordShield Pathogen Barrier treated textiles, as well as more than 99.9% efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and up to 99.999 percent efficacy against bacteria.

NordShield has reached an agreement with SHL Healthcare, a major contract manufacturer located in Sweden, to develop the world’s first commercially produced and widely available medical textiles with natural-based antimicrobial technology, with the first items expected later this year. NordShield BioLayr is an Oeko-Tex approved technology that is applied directly at the manufacturing site to consumer and home fabrics.