SEP led a $17 million investment in healthcare pioneer Heartscape Technologies, which has launched an innovative device for the early and accurate diagnosis of heart attacks in emergency room patients.

The Heartscape device, PRIME ECG, designed primarily for use in hospital emergency departments, has already obtained FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval in the United States. The device provides doctors with more detailed images and information on a patient’s heart than traditional electrocardiograms (ECGs), helping save lives through early diagnosis.

Heartscape Technologies Chief Executive Officer Arthur Hiller said: ““For heart attack victims rapid diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death and impacts a patient’s long-term prognosis. A significant opportunity exists for PRIME ECG to benefit patients by improving the speed of diagnosis and hospital efficiency in managing high-risk cardiovascular patients.”

Heartscape has its research and development and manufacturing base in Northern Ireland and its commercial team in the USA in Boston and Columbia, Maryland. It will use the new funds for the US commercial launch of PRIME ECG and clinical development.

SEP led second round funding as part of a syndicate which includes Investor Growth Capital of Sweden and existing investors Radius Ventures from New York and Delta Partners from Ireland.

Brian Kerr, Investment Director in SEP’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Team said: “PRIME ECG represents the first major advance in cardiovascular diagnostic devices for years. It is precisely the kind of disruptive technology that builds value for investors and increases the standard of healthcare.”