How Plasmacure plans to transform global wound care
Plasmacure raised €6 million. The startup develops innovative solutions for complex wound care. IO+ spoke with CEO Bjorn Sprengers.
Published on August 8, 2025
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Plasmacure, based in Eindhoven and Nijmegen, raised €6 million in investment in July. The round was led by US-based Venture Medical, which is also investing over $10 million to facilitate entry into the US market.
Worldwide, 5 to 10% of the elderly population suffers from chronic wounds, such as bedsores or diabetic foot wounds. These are not only painful, but often also debilitating and socially burdensome – people are ashamed of them. At the same time, they place a heavy burden on the healthcare system: 2 to 4% of healthcare costs go to wound care. And with the growth of diabetes, that problem is only getting bigger. In 2013, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport estimated the total costs for this complex wound care at approximately €3.2 billion per year. Plasmacure is developing an innovative treatment for these types of complex wounds based on cold plasma. We spoke with CEO Bjorn Sprengers about bringing a medtech innovation to market, global ambitions, and slow validation processes.
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Investment of the Month
Every month, we interview a startup or company that has recently received investment.
View Investment of the monthSince our last meeting in 2021, Plasmacure has made great strides, with the most recent milestone being a €6 million investment; congratulations! Where are you now?
Sprengers: "Thank you! The process ran from the summer of 2024 to June this year – not an ideal time to raise capital – and that in a period of geopolitical uncertainty and caution surrounding early-stage medtech. We are extremely proud that we managed to pull it off.
It was quite a complex process. Our investor will also become our US distributor. So we had to negotiate both money and market access. We were very lucky with Venture Medical. They have a rock-solid reputation in the US and are truly convinced of our technology."
How does the technology work exactly?
Sprengers: We have developed a treatment—PLASOMA—for open wounds based on cold plasma. We generate this plasma by activating atmospheric air with electrical energy. This creates a powerful antimicrobial plasma that can even eliminate antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The PLASOMA pulser emits controlled electrical pulses to a disposable pad, which generates the cold plasma directly in the wound. This safely activates multiple healing mechanisms that accelerate recovery.
What is the current status of the clinical validation of your product?
Sprengers: "We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which is the gold standard in medical research. The result: 62% of the treated wounds closed within the specified time, compared to 25% with standard care. That makes our treatment 2.5 times more effective. Thanks to this study, the Dutch government is considering reimbursing it. That would be a huge breakthrough. But before that happens, we have to conduct another clinical validation this fall, which will take another three years."
It is clear that medtech companies need to be patient. How do you view this?
Sprengers: "In Europe, the regulatory system for medical innovations is fragmented. So-called ‘private notified bodies’ monitor compliance with regulations, which makes the process unpredictable and slow. We are now in the middle of that process in the Netherlands, but for every European country where we want to enter the market, we will have to conduct local clinical research again. That makes a rollout in the EU expensive and time-consuming. Meanwhile, healthcare institutions are eager for it: hospitals and home care organizations are knocking on our door. But without reimbursement, it is difficult to implement. Our business case shows that we save 44% in costs and deliver a 50% productivity gain – but the financial incentive needs to kick in. In the US, it's simpler: everything goes through the FDA. One central authority, clear process. That's important for a scale-up like Plasmacure."
What do you want to achieve with the money you raised?
Sprengers: "The new funding gives us breathing space until 2029. By then, we want to be reimbursed in the Netherlands and be on our way to reimbursement in the US and China. At the same time, we aim to generate revenue by negotiating temporary agreements with health insurers. One of the investors is Coöperatie VGZ, which joined precisely because it believes that PLASOMA can improve access to better wound care. Ultimately, our treatment should become standard in complex wound care.”
What makes your solution so suitable for a global scale?
Sprengers: “Our plasma is generated directly in the wound. That is unique and more effective than other solutions. What's more, our solution is mobile – our device can simply be taken to the patient. That fits in with how nurses work, especially in home care. We are the only Dutch player in a field of five international competitors. It's no coincidence that our American investor chose Plasmacure.”
What is Plasmacure's ultimate mission?
Sprengers: "We want to set a new global standard in wound care. Chronic wounds – such as bedsores – affect 5 to 10% of the elderly population. They are painful, debilitating, and sometimes socially isolating. And they cost the healthcare system billions. Our technology can change that. We want to give healthcare professionals the tools to make a real difference – with technology that works, is affordable, and is easy to use.”
Where will you be in five years?
Sprengers: “We will be active in the US, China, and Europe. Our product will be reimbursed and embedded in the standard of care. We will be impacting the lives of millions of people with chronic wounds. And we will have proven that medical innovation from the Netherlands can make a difference worldwide.”
