Japanese Technology Group Niterra Increases Stake in German Med-Tech Pioneer Neoplas Med

• Capital Increase Brings Additional €17 Million for International Marketing and Further Development of Technology Platform
• German High-Tech Solution Sets New Standard in the Treatment of Infected and Chronic Wounds – 50% Faster Wound Healing

Greifswald, November 19, 2024 – Greifswald-based plasma medical technology pioneer Neoplas Med GmbH is deepening its strategic collaboration with Japanese technology group Niterra. As part of a capital increase, Niterra Ventures Company (NVC) has increased its stake in Neoplas Med to approximately 49%, marking a strong signal of a long-term partnership. The company, which originated from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), will receive around €17 million through this investment. NVC had already invested in Neoplas Med in 2022 and 2023 to jointly develop the market for innovative medical technology products. In total, NVC has now invested around €24 million in Neoplas Med.

The core product of Neoplas Med is the argon cold plasma jet, kINPen® MED, an innovative “plasma pen” that directs a precise plasma beam onto wounds and significantly accelerates healing. Clinical studies show that treatment time can be reduced by 50% compared to conventional methods – without side effects or the development of resistance. Neoplas Med is one of the few companies using the noble gas argon to generate cold plasma for its nearly painless and rapid plasma jet therapy. Peer-reviewed studies published in renowned scientific journals have demonstrated the effectiveness in treating both infected and chronic wounds. Neoplas Med GmbH is currently the only manufacturer of cold plasma products in Europe that meets the strict requirements of the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR).

In Germany, 75% of university hospitals as well as numerous doctors’ offices and clinics use Neoplas Med’s patented argon jet cold plasma therapy. More than 500,000 treatments have already been performed worldwide – including in leading clinics in the Middle East.

Neoplas Med was recently recognized as a “lighthouse company in the healthcare sector” by Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. As a young company, Neoplas Med benefits from ideal conditions for development, production, and growth within the plasma medicine research cluster in Greifswald. By the end of the year, Neoplas Med will employ 30 people.

“The additional investment from NVC opens up entirely new opportunities for us to access international markets, expand our technology platform, and develop new products. This is not only a major step forward but also helps secure and create new jobs in the high-tech sector here in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,” says Ulrike Sailer, CEO of Neoplas Med.

Dirk Schapeler, President of Niterra Ventures Company, adds: “We are expanding into new business areas in medicine, cleantech, energy, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve quality of life through advanced technologies. We’ve worked closely with Neoplas Med in recent years and are impressed by the treatment outcomes. This follow-on investment was therefore a logical step.”

By 2030, Niterra aims to restructure its portfolio by increasing the share of business outside the automotive sector. In the medical field, the company is investing in technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological disorders, and hypertension.

About Neoplas Med GmbH

Approximately two million people in Germany suffer from serious wound-related diseases. Neoplas Med GmbH is advancing the clinical application of argon cold plasma jet therapy, working to sustainably and effectively improve the quality of life for people with acute and chronic wounds.

Argon jet plasma has antibacterial and wound-healing effects. The kINPen® MED is the world’s first cold plasma jet powered by argon. It enables effective and gentle wound treatment with maximum precision and consistent treatment quality – without observed side effects or resistance development, up to potential wound closure.

To ensure that the new cold plasma jet therapy is reimbursed by health insurance providers, Neoplas Med submitted an application for a clinical trial in April 2021, which was approved by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) in February 2023. Recently, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) published the decision of the Extended Evaluation Committee regarding the reimbursement for service providers involved in the study “Cold Plasma for Chronic Wounds.” The decision is currently under formal and substantive review. Neoplas Med’s strategic partner for international expansion and technological advancement is the Japanese high-tech corporation Niterra Co., Ltd.

About Niterra Co., Ltd.

Founded in Nagoya, Japan, in 1936, Niterra Co., Ltd. (formerly NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.) is best known for its NGK-branded spark plugs and NTK-branded ceramic products. The brand name Niterra, a fusion of the Latin words “niteo” (shine) and “terra” (earth), was introduced in April 2023 to reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability and its evolving portfolio focused on ceramics and beyond. Under the corporate motto “IGNITE YOUR SPIRIT”, Niterra is expanding into the growth sectors of mobility, healthcare, environment and energy, and communication.

The company recorded consolidated sales of approximately €4 billion in the 2022 fiscal year (ending March 2023), operates 33 locations in Japan and 59 internationally, and employs over 16,000 people.
More at: https://www.ngkntk.co.jp/english