Calcivis has developed the world’s first biotechnology-based dental imaging system and has been part of the portfolio of the Scottish business angel investment syndicate, Archangels, since 2012. The Calcivis Imaging System can identify active tooth decay at an early stage, allowing dentists to use preventive treatments.

The Calcivis Imaging System, which combines a medical device with a photoprotein consumable, has undergone extensive clinical evaluation in advance of its planned launch in Boston, USA, in 2022. To facilitate this Calcivis has successfully completed a £1.52 million equity fund raise, led by Archangels and also featuring investment from Scottish Enterprise and Lynx Financial.

The leading life sciences veteran, Dr John Brown, has been appointed non-executive chairman of Calcivis, succeeding James Browning, who has stepped down from the role after eight years on the Calcivis Board.

Dr Brown has had a long association with Calcivis’s largest shareholder, Archangels, having chaired and overseen exits from two Archangels portfolio companies: Touch Bionics Ltd and CXR Biosciences Ltd. He is the current chairman of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and senior non-executive director of Acacia Pharma plc and YourGene Health plc. In the public sector he is Chairman of the Roslin Foundation, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh.

Commenting on his new role as chairman of Calcivis, John Brown, said: “Calcivis is at a very exciting point in its development. This device provides what many clinicians believe to be the “holy grail” of preventive dentistry and, with a US launch scheduled for next year, Calcivis is in a strong position to help dentists in the world’s biggest market to identify dental decay before it’s too late to save the tooth.”

In addition, Calcivis has appointed Vancouver-based Michael Crane as a non-executive director. Mr Crane, who has worked as an adviser to Calcivis for a number of years, has over 35 years’ experience in the dental field, both in the US and Europe, and brings a wealth of contacts and a track record of commercialising dental technologies.

He has held the position of Senior Vice President, North America Group, and Senior Vice President, International Group, for Dentsply, now Dentsply/Sirona. He has also held senior positions with Johnson and Johnson Dental Products Company, and Ortho Pharmaceutical (Canada) Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

Mr Crane added: “I’m confident that Calcivis can revolutionise the world of preventive dentistry at a time when many patients are suffering the effects of not being able to see their dentist for check-ups due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Calcivis device will arm dentists across North America with the ability to spot tooth demineralisation earlier than has ever been possible before, allowing them to take the necessary steps, such as the deployment of fluoride varnishes, sealants and remineralising agents and to monitor the effectiveness of their treatment.”

Adam Christie, CEO of Calcivis, said: “I’d like to thank James Browning on behalf of the whole Calcivis team and our shareholders for his leadership in getting us to where we are today.

“These appointments and the successful completion of another funding round signal the opening of a new chapter in the Calcivis story as we prepare to launch our device in the US and see the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the whole Calcivis team become a reality.”