Sotelix Endoscopy is significantly more financially sound these days, having closed a $1.7 million seed round financing that will fund R&D efforts, including in vivo testing of its device.

The round included investments from individual investors, among them some of the world’s leading endoscopists, experienced medical device entrepreneurs, and other investors with clinical, technical, and business expertise.

“Therapeutic endoscopy holds the potential to treat numerous gastrointestinal conditions in a minimally invasive manner, but achieving this requires the right tools,” said Sotelix Endoscopy Founder Dr. Mouen Khashab, director of Therapeutic Endoscopy at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Sotelix is dedicated to creating these tools to enable incision-free, scar-free treatments, helping patients return to their lives faster.”

Sotelix Endoscopy’s leadership team includes Co-Founder Dr. Venkata Akshintala, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and pioneer in gastrointestinal medical device development; Chairman Mohamad Khachab, a successful entrepreneur and investor; and CEO John Schellhorn.

Baltimore, Md.-based Sotelix Endoscopy is a privately held medical device startup developing therapeutic endoscopy devices for minimally invasive treatments in the gastrointestinal tract.