MPower Partners Invests in US-Based HistoSonics, Developer of Non-Invasive Cancer Treatment Platform

MPower Partners Fund II (hereinafter, MPower), a global venture capital fund, has invested in HistoSonics, Inc. (hereinafter, HistoSonics), a US-based medical device company developing a non-invasive cancer treatment platform using focused ultrasound. MPower participated in this round alongside other strategic investors, including Yosemite, which has a mission to "make cancer a non-lethal disease for life."

In cancer treatment, patients have historically faced difficult choices between "treatment efficacy" and "burden on the body." Traditional therapies such as surgery, radiation, and ablation damage healthy tissues, requiring long recovery periods and diminishing patients' quality of life. HistoSonics is challenging this with an approach that overturns conventional cancer treatment by destroying only tumors without the need for scalpels, radiation, or heat.

The core of HistoSonics' platform, the Edison® histotripsy system, delivers precisely focused ultrasound energy via a robotic arm to mechanically destroy and liquefy target tumors at the cellular level. In 2023, it received FDA De Novo clearance as a medical device for the non-invasive destruction of liver tumors.

Currently, Edison is the world's only histotripsy system approved for clinical use. In recent years, evidence suggesting that the mechanical destruction of tumor tissue may activate the body's immune response has been accumulating, leading to expectations for new developments in treatment.

HistoSonics is experiencing rapid growth in the US market, with Edison® being steadily adopted by major university hospitals and medical institutions nationwide. Most recently, the company submitted an FDA De Novo application for the treatment of kidney tumors and is accumulating promising clinical data for pancreatic tumors. The ultimate goal is to realize a platform that can address solid tumors throughout the body.

The number of people who have difficulty undergoing surgery due to tumors, or who seek gentler treatment options, is increasing worldwide, including in Japan. HistoSonics' approach, which does not harm the body and can be completed on an outpatient basis, is expected to become a new standard of care for these individuals.

HistoSonics' mission to deliver groundbreaking cancer treatments to more patients aligns perfectly with MPower's investment theme of improving health through technology and "Japan Dynamism." MPower believes that Japan, with its world-class cancer treatment infrastructure and growing demand for patient-centric innovation, is one of the most important markets for HistoSonics' global expansion.

Comment from Mike Blue, CEO of HistoSonics We are thrilled to welcome MPower as a partner at this pivotal moment as HistoSonics enters a new growth phase. We are seeking partners who can contribute directly to our business growth, not just capital. Japan, with its aging population and strong demand for non-invasive cancer treatments, is one of the most critical markets for our global expansion. MPower, with its deep roots in the Japanese healthcare ecosystem and a track record of supporting numerous innovative companies, is the ideal partner to help us bring our therapeutic technology to patients worldwide.

Comment from Yumiko Murakami, General Partner at MPower Partners HistoSonics is precisely the kind of company MPower aims to support. The histotripsy technology, which treats cancer without scalpels or radiation, has the potential to bring about significant transformation in Japan's medical field, which is facing an aging population and has a desperate need for gentle yet effective treatments. Japan already has world-class cancer treatment facilities, providing fertile ground for adopting this technology. We will leverage MPower's network to its fullest to strongly support HistoSonics' entry into the Japanese market and its expansion into Asia.

HistoSonics Overview Representative: CEO Mike Blue Established: 2009 Locations: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA / Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA URL: https://histosonics.com/

MPower Partners Fund II Overview MPower Partners is a global venture capital fund originating from Japan with a mission to support entrepreneurs pioneering the next generation. Our investment team, with diverse backgrounds, utilizes its global network to discover startups both domestically and internationally, fostering long-term, sustainable growth through our unique ESG framework. We also strive to bridge the gap between startups and society, working with entrepreneurs and various stakeholders to create an environment where Japan's startup ecosystem is more global, diverse, and continuously innovative.

Fund HP: https://www.mpower-partners.com

Contact for inquiries regarding this matter: info@mpower-partners.com

*This press release is intended for informational purposes for qualified institutional investors and potential portfolio companies of the fund. It is not a disclosure document under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase units in this fund.