Alure Medical Inc., Minimally-Invasive Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics Device Start-Up, Closes $4.5 Million Series A Private Financing and Announces President and CEO

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alure Medical, Inc., a privately held developer of unique platform technologies for minimally-invasive soft tissue lift devices and delivery systems, announced today that it has closed a $4.5 million Series A financing. The Company also announced the appointment of medical device industry executive, France Dixon Helfer, as President and CEO, who closed the quality financing.

The financing will enable Alure Medical to develop and launch a family of products for percutaneous soft tissue lifts for the breast, neck and other soft tissue structures, participating in the highly lucrative and explosive growth plastic surgery and aesthetics industry.

Ms. Helfer commented, “I’m excited about the enormous market potential of our platform technology. I joined Alure because it is destined for success. The Company’s founders, Randy Lashinski and Gordon Bishop, have an excellent track record with other successful medical device ventures, and with a great start up team already in place, the Company is well positioned to dominate a new area of plastic surgery with minimally-invasive soft tissue lift devices. This successful round of financing reflects enthusiasm from private investors familiar with the medical device industry. It’s also a reflection of the growth in the self-payer field in which we participate; plastic surgery and surgical dermatology. This money will enable us to build our technology portfolio, obtain regulatory clearances, recruit key employees, and introduce our products. The first product we anticipate launching in 2009 is the Alure Refine™ Breast Lift System. The physicians we’ve spoken with are anxiously waiting for this unique product that offers women a minimally-invasive ‘lunch time lift’ as a revolutionary alternative to current surgical mastopexy procedures for breast sagging. This funding will enable Alure Medical to stake its claim as a true player in the fast growing plastic surgery field.”

EDF Ventures, an investment group specializing in funding early stage companies, participated in the round through Mike DeVries, a general partner, along with private industry investors, and was responsible for recruiting Ms. Helfer. Mr. DeVries stated, “France has a proven track record in building successful medical device start-ups including her most recent company, Pegasus Biologics. We believe she will continue this tradition at Alure Medical. In addition, we are enthusiastic to be an investor in Alure Medical. We were the first major investors in Alure and are delighted that the Company has achieved significant milestones with amazing agility and look forward to great success in the future,” said DeVries.

About Alure Medical, Inc.

Alure Medical, Inc. (San Diego, CA) is a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of percutaneous soft tissue lift devices and delivery systems for plastic surgery utilizing unique and patent pending technologies.