Karista, a leading pan-European venture capital firm, is pleased to announce it has led the Series B extension financing round for SamanTree Medical to accelerate commercial expansion, with a focus on launching in the US. 

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SamanTree Medical has developed the Histolog® Scanner, a CE-marked and FDA cleared device, that enables rapid high-resolution imaging of fresh tissue surfaces during surgery. This breakthrough technology allows pathologists and surgeons to perform real-time intra-operative assessments of resected tissue, significantly faster than conventional techniques. Based on ultra-fast confocal microscopy, the Histolog Scanner has already been utilized in over 5,000 surgical procedures in prostate and breast cancer with studies in bladder, penile, lung and ENT cancer underway or being planned. 

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Karista's investment in SamanTree Medical reflects its dedication to backing pioneering medical technologies with the potential to transform healthcare. As part of this investment, Amine Benmoussa, Partner at Karista, will join SamanTree’s Board of Directors. He commented:

"The Histolog Scanner represents a major advancement in intra-operative margin assessment. Its real-time, high-resolution imaging for a range of cancer types during surgery addresses a critical need in cancer care, reducing re-operation rates and improving patient outcomes. We are excited about its potential as a platform technology with broad applications, enabling more precise decision-making and setting new standards in precision surgical oncology. This investment aligns well with our ESG strategy as the Histolog Scanner exemplifies the patient-centric innovation we strive to nurture, advancing healthcare delivery and improving lives."

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This Series B extension builds upon the previous financing round announced in July 2024, led by Turenne Capital, with participation from Mutuelles Impact, Wille Finance, Noshaq, and WE Life Sciences (Wallonie Entreprendre), along with existing investors Panakès Partners, BOM, Ekwithree and others. This additional funding will accelerate commercial expansion, with a focus on scaling operations in the U. and strengthening SamanTree’s presence in Europe.

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Chuck Carignan, Chairman of SamanTree Medical, stated: “Karista’s leadership in this round is a testament to the growing confidence in our technology and vision. As the Histolog Scanner is already making a meaningful impact in surgical oncology, this upsized financing will be further instrumental in accelerating our expansion and adoption, while advancing our mission to improve surgical outcomes. We are excited to welcome Karista’s expertise and strategic support as we enter this next phase of growth”

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Olivier Delporte, CEO of SamanTree Medical, commented: "The ongoing support of both new and existing investors underscores the remarkable progress we’ve made. Building on the exciting clinical data presented at EAU in Madrid, intraoperative margin assessment allowed for nerve-sparing prostatectomies, resulting in significantly improved erectile function and continence¹. Moreover, the Histolog Scanner demonstrated accuracy and clinical relevance².”

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About SamanTree Medical

Headquartered in Liège, Belgium, SamanTree Medical is dedicated to improving oncologic surgery through innovative imaging solutions. Its flagship product, the Swiss-developed Histolog® Scanner, features massive parallel confocal microscopy, a cutting-edge technology that expands the imaging field up to 40,000 times larger than standard confocal microscopy. The breakthrough device enables surgeons and pathologists to visualize large, fresh tissue samples in real-time with exceptional resolution and accuracy, making it uniquely suited for intraoperative environments in oncologic surgery. Founded in 2014 based on innovations from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a leading Swiss research institute renowned for engineering and technological advancements, SamanTree Medical is committed to improving surgical precision and outcomes by enabling real-time fresh tissue imaging.

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References

(1) Dinneen, E., et. al. Effect of NeuroSAFE-guided RARP versus standard RARP on erectile function and urinary continence in patients with localised prostate cancer (NeuroSAFE PROOF): a multicentre, patient-blinded, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial. The Lancet Oncology: Online First, March 24, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00091-9

(2) Mayor, N, et. al. IP8-FLUORESCE: A prospective paired-cohort study evaluating fluorescence confocal microscopy for rapid evaluation of surgical margins in radical prostatectomy. Presented 24 March 2025. European Association of Urology.

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