Growth for Phagenesis leads to bigger office space

Manchester Science Parks tenant Phagenesis, a leader in technology for the treatment of stroke patients, has taken on larger office space at msp’s Corridor site due to rapid growth and increased staff numbers.

The company, which was spun out from the University of Manchester, has attracted funding from a number of experienced investors, most recently raising £2million towards the development of a device that delivers electrical pulses to the throat that can “awaken” the brain to help restore swallowing function in stroke victims.

As a result, the business has grown from two to six staff members and moved from a small office in msp’s MedTECH Centre to a 1,428sq ft office in Enterprise House. The company plans to grow the team by at least two more by the end of 2011.

Daniel Green, CEO at Phagenesis said: “Our rapid growth and continued support from investors is testament to the quality of the research behind this device and the high calibre team we have in place”.

“Being unable to swallow safely is a life-threatening condition. Our technology is the first to have been proven to work in well-controlled clinical trials, and we are now planning product launches.”

www.phagenesis.com

Ends.

Dysphagia
Dysphagic patients cannot swallow normally. Dysphagia can be mild or severe, and is most commonly caused by stroke and brain injury where the part of the brain responsible for swallowing has been damaged. Other causes include diseases like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease.

At least 50% of stroke victims have impaired swallowing. Apart from a severe reduction in quality of life, dysphagia often leads to the inhalation of liquids and the development of life-threatening pneumonia. In addition, the financial burden of dysphagia can run to thousands of pounds per patient in the first few weeks alone, and may continue indefinitely if the patient's swallowing is not restored.