ZAP Surgical Secures $78M Series E

In a bold step forward for non-invasive brain surgery, ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc. has closed a $78 million Series E funding round, steered by Qingdao Baheal Medical Inc.

This hefty infusion of capital aims to propel the global commercialization of ZAP’s groundbreaking ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® platform, a technology set to expand the reach of radiosurgery beyond a privileged few and make it available to millions of underserved patients worldwide.

Founded to shake up the high-cost landscape of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), ZAP Surgical’s platform is tailored for patients facing conditions like brain metastases, meningiomas, and trigeminal neuralgia.

SRS, a well-regarded non-invasive technique, can often replace open-brain surgeries and typically requires only one to five quick outpatient sessions.

However, due to the cost and complexity of existing technology, just 200,000 of the five million global candidates receive the treatment they need each year—a fact ZAP Surgical’s founder, Dr. John R. Adler, considers unacceptable.

“We founded ZAP Surgical to address a clear need: enabling more patients to access state-of-the-art radiosurgery without the prohibitive costs and infrastructure requirements that limit so many providers,” said Adler, a renowned Stanford neurosurgeon who’s seen firsthand the limitations of current offerings.

The partnership with Baheal Medical is pivotal in breaking down these barriers.

• “This partnership with Baheal Medical perfectly aligns with our mission, providing ZAP-X with a powerful platform to reach millions of underserved patients globally,” Adler noted, emphasizing the expansive reach this collaboration could bring.

At the heart of the ZAP-X system is an innovative gyroscopic design that directs radiation beams from countless angles, precisely targeting tumors while prioritizing the protection of healthy brain tissue.

Unlike traditional setups that rely on cumbersome, expensive shielded rooms and radioactive isotopes, ZAP-X is vault-free and cobalt-free, which simplifies its deployment and sidesteps the tedious protocols of radioactive material handling.

This structural difference holds the potential to bring radiosurgery into outpatient clinics and smaller hospitals, broadening its accessibility beyond urban hubs.

Fu Gang, Chairman and President of Baheal Medical, voiced his optimism about the venture:

“We are thrilled to partner with ZAP Surgical in expanding access to cutting-edge radiosurgery technology. ZAP-X’s innovative approach aligns with our commitment to delivering advanced healthcare solutions that address pressing clinical needs,” he said, underscoring the collaborative ambition to redefine the approach to brain tumors and similar conditions.

Currently, radiosurgery is limited mainly to large academic centers, leaving out roughly 96% of patients who could benefit.

This funding round aims to address that imbalance, a move that speaks not only to the technical prowess of ZAP Surgical’s product but also to the financial and strategic acumen of its leadership.

Backed by substantial support from investors, the partnership is well-positioned to redefine radiosurgery’s role in modern medicine.

ZAP Surgical’s mission to create a more inclusive, affordable healthcare landscape seems to be well on its way, with the ZAP-X platform at the forefront.

This breakthrough could well mark the beginning of a future where access to high-end brain care isn’t limited by geography or economics.