Cancer and chronic lung disease remain two of the most pressing health challenges worldwide. Millions of patients face limited treatment options when surgery, radiation, or drug therapies aren’t possible or effective.
Galvanize Therapeutics is expanding access to treatment through its breakthrough pulsed electric field (PEF) platform — a first-of-its-kind, non-drug approach targeting solid tumors and chronic bronchitis, the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With a first-to-market, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved platform and proven leadership team, Galvanize Therapeutics is bringing safer, more precise technologies to oncology and lung care, and accelerating new treatment possibilities for patients who otherwise have few.
Galvanize Therapeutics is bringing safer, more precise technologies to oncology and lung care, and accelerating new treatment possibilities for patients who otherwise have few.
We have been watching the innovations coming from Galvanize for years, and today we’re proud to announce we are backing the company in its $100 million Series C financing, supporting its commercial expansion, clinical development, and R&D efforts.
Targeting Tumors Through a Safer, More Precise Alternative to Surgery
Traditional ablation methods, which burn or freeze tumors, risk damaging these vital structures in many organs, including the lung which is a maze of delicate airways, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. As a result, ablation has been underutilized for patients with solid tumors, particularly in the lung.
Galvanize’s Aliya® PEF System enables clinicians to use a bronchoscope (through the windpipe) to precisely target tumors in hard-to-reach areas in the lung, without damage to surrounding healthy tissues. Unlike traditional ablation methods, PEF uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to destabilize cells through multiple biochemical processes. This approach causes apoptosis, the natural process of programmed cell death.
Galvanize enables clinicians to use a bronchoscope to precisely target tumors in hard-to-reach areas in the lung, without damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Early studies suggest this approach is safe, feasible, and may even prime the immune system to help fight cancer elsewhere in the body. Early data from top cancer centers like New York University and Duke University show promise when Galvanize’s technology is used in controlling local tumors and supporting late-stage and metastatic patients.
Just as importantly, Galvanize’s therapies are compatible with other existing standards of care, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy treatments. This flexibility makes the platform well-suited to fit into the increasingly multimodal approach of modern oncology and respiratory care.
Beyond Oncology: Treating Chronic Bronchitis
In addition to its work in solid tumors, Galvanize is advancing RheOx® therapy for chronic bronchitis, a debilitating disease and the leading cause of COPD. Millions of patients with chronic bronchitis have limited options today, and RheOx® represents a first-of-its-kind, non-drug therapy with the potential to significantly improve quality of life.
Galvanize’s dual focus — oncology and chronic lung disease — through its PEF platform has the potential to impact multiple fields of medicine.
Positioned to Scale
Galvanize is well-positioned in the market. Norwest’s early indicators estimate that interventional pulmonologists will more than triple their use of PEF in the next three years, buoyed by the strong safety profile of PEF.
The company is led by medtech veteran Doug Godshall, former CEO of Shockwave Medical (acquired by Johnson & Johnson for $13 billion in 2024) and HeartWare (acquired by Medtronic for $1.1 billion in 2016). Godshall recently joined the company as CEO after serving as Chairman since 2021.
Alongside the financing, several industry leaders joined the company, including Jonathan Waldstreicher as President and Chief Strategy Officer. Our own Dr. Zack Scott joins the Board of Directors alongside Sofinnova Partners’ Antoine Papiernik and Gilmartin Capital’s David Lewis.
Norwest: Backing Breakthroughs That Redefine Lung Care
Our team at Norwest takes pride in its strong medical technology expertise and has a proven track record of investing in category-defining therapies that address both clinical and systemic challenges.
Galvanize checks every box for our top priorities in evaluating new companies:
- First and only FDA-approved bronchoscope-delivered ablation system
- Expands access to care with safer, more precise procedures
- Led by a team with deep domain expertise and proven execution
The way we see it: Galvanize is building the most clinically meaningful platform for chronic lung disease and solid tumor care, changing the trajectory for these underserved populations.
This investment also complements our respiratory and pulmonary portfolio, including Apreo Health, which is improving care for emphysema patients.
We’re excited to support Galvanize on this journey and its mission to deliver life-changing solutions to patients and their doctors.
