SafeHeal raises 10M to advance Colovac aiming to eliminate temporary stomas for colorectal cancer patients

Temporary stomas, a common but challenging part of colorectal cancer surgery, may soon become a thing of the past. Paris-based medtech startup SafeHeal is betting on that future with Colovac®, an innovative, minimally invasive device designed to protect surgical sites and spare patients from the physical and emotional burden of temporary stomas.
In a conversation withTFN, SafeHeal’s President and CEO,Chris Richardson,highlights the significance: “Colorectal surgery has long relied on temporary stomas, which carry stigma, complications, and require additional surgeries.Colovac is designed to change that.”
SafeHeal just announced an oversubscribed €10 million extension to its €35 million Series C funding, led by Barcelona-basedAsabys Partners, bringing total funds raised to €97.5 million. The fresh capital will accelerate pivotal U.S. clinical trials and support the device’s commercial rollout across Europe.
SafeHeal was founded in 2015 by French digestive surgeonDr. Charam Khosrovaniand created through the medtech accelerator MD Start II. Dr. Khosrovani, a laureate of the French Surgical Academy, developed Colovac to address the long-standing unmet need for improved outcomes in colorectal surgery.
Colovac® is a flexible, reversible bypass sheath placed endoluminally at the anastomotic site after surgery. The device remains in place for about 10 days, protecting the area from faecal contamination during the critical healing period. It is then removed through a simple endoscopic procedure, eliminating the need for additional surgery.
This technology eliminates the need for an ostomy, allowing patients to resume normal life much sooner without the physical and psychological burden of an artificial anus or stoma. With over 2 million colorectal resections performed globally each year, Colovac stands out as a groundbreaking alternative that enhances recovery, reduces complications, and substantially cuts healthcare costs.
SafeHeal’s device has earned FDA Breakthrough Device designation and received European Union marketing approval under the Medical Device Regulation. While SafeHeal refrains from commenting directly on competitors, these milestones underscore its distinctive position in the colorectal surgery space.
Josep Ll. Sanfeliu, Managing Partner of Asabys Partners and newly appointed board member at SafeHeal, toldTFN, “We invest exactly in this type of device, therapeutic impact, with an impact also in healthcare systems through innovation of biomedical engineering.”
Richardson added, “Navigating the MDR process is no small feat… the EU regulators recognised the obvious clinical benefits Colovac provides to colorectal cancer patients.”
Looking ahead, SafeHeal plans to finalise U.S. regulatory approvals, drive surgeon adoption, and secure reimbursement pathways within the next three to five years. The company’s diverse team (60% male, 40% female) is positioned to redefine colorectal surgery standards worldwide and deliver transformative patient outcomes.