Omeza, a Sarasota-based developer of advanced wound care solutions, has raised $8.5M in Series A funding co-led by Astanor and BluKap Ventures, with participation from Catalyst Investments and Florida Opportunity Fund. The company's flagship OCM™ Wound Matrix is an FDA-cleared drug-device combination made from cold water fish peptides that addresses all phases of wound healing. The new capital will accelerate clinical trials, expand commercial operations, and generate evidence for broader reimbursement.
Fish-Skin Tech Draws Investor Focus
Omeza's funding arrives amid rising interest in marine-derived wound therapies. Kerecis, a pioneer in fish-skin grafts, reported clinical trial results in April 2026 showing shorter hospital stays for burn patients, just days before Omeza's announcement. Larger player Organogenesis posted record Q4 2025 revenue of $225M in advanced wound care, up 78% year-over-year. Omeza's shelf-stable matrix positions it as a simpler alternative to cold-chain allografts in this validating environment.
Chronic Wounds Burden Healthcare
Healthcare professionals treat millions with chronic non-healing wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure injuries, often complicated by diabetes, obesity, and poor perfusion. Current solutions struggle with biofilm formation, persistent inflammation, and stalled proliferation. Omeza targets these pain points with a single-use application that clinicians report restarts healing in stalled cases.
Multimodal Matrix Tackles All Phases
OCM™ delivers time-released omega-3s and peptides from pharmaceutical-grade fish sources, reducing biofilm and edema while promoting cell growth and remodeling. Case studies demonstrate 90-100% wound closure at 12 weeks for diabetic foot ulcers. Unlike enzyme debridement systems or ultrasound devices, Omeza provides comprehensive therapy in one vial.
As Cynthia Flowers, CEO, noted:
"This financing marks a pivotal milestone for Omeza as we accelerate our clinical development and expand our commercial footprint."
Impact Investors Signal Scale-Up
Astanor focuses on regenerative agtech, while BluKap targets health innovations; their co-leadership adds strategic depth with new board seats for Henry Gazay, Edouard Cukierman, and Eric Archambeau. This follows Omeza's 2025 exclusive national commercialization partnership with Advanced Solution. The funding brings total raised to approximately $40M.
Advanced Wound Market Expands
The global advanced wound care market stands at $13.37B in 2025, projected to reach $19.32B by 2030 at a 7.6% CAGR, per MarketsandMarkets. Trends favor biologics and outpatient shifts amid rising diabetes and aging populations. Competitors like Kerecis validate marine sources, but Omeza's drug-device combo avoids complex logistics.
Big Pharma Veterans Lead Charge
CEO Cynthia Flowers brings 25+ years, including as President & CEO of Ipsen North America. Co-founder Griscom "Chip" Bettle holds 42 US patents in biotech formulations. Board Chairman Richard Hague led PolarityTE, a regenerative skin therapy firm. This team combines commercial scaling, IP innovation, and regulatory expertise for reimbursement pushes.
Clinical Expansion Follows Partnership
Post-funding, Omeza advances a VLU randomized controlled trial, DFU open-label study, and real-world evidence generation. The 2025 Advanced Solution deal enables nationwide access to OCM™. Attendance at SAWC Fall 2025 underscores clinician outreach.