CytaCoat
CytaCoat AB is a Swedish medtech company developing LubriShield®, a proprietary covalently bonded hydrogel coating that prevents biofilm formation on medical devices without antimicrobial agents. It serves medical device manufacturers via OEM supply and technology licensing across urinary catheters, wound dressings, and other invasive devices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSolna, Sweden
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CytaCoat does
CytaCoat AB is a Swedish medtech company, founded in 2018 and headquartered at the Karolinska University Hospital site in Solna, Sweden, that has developed LubriShield®, a proprietary covalently bonded hydrogel coating technology designed to prevent biofilm formation on medical device surfaces without relying on antimicrobial agents such as silver or antibiotics. The technology applies a permanent, non-releasing anti-fouling layer to polymer-based medical devices (silicone, polyethylene, polyurethane, PVC, polycaprolactone) via a scalable grafting process, and operates through three complementary surface-engineering mechanisms: a hydrated surface barrier limiting microbial attachment, a dynamic ionic/water interface disrupting microbial sensing, and surface ligands interfering with biofilm-activation molecular recognition. In vitro testing shows >80% biofilm reduction after 14 days and prevention of biofilm formation for at least 28 days, with broad-spectrum effectiveness against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The company's first clinically validated sub-product, LubriShield™, is targeted at urinary catheters to address catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs); clinical safety data and PLOS ONE preclinical results were published in 2025.
CytaCoat generates revenue through a B2B model combining two channels: (i) OEM supply of finished, packaged, and sterilized coated devices delivered to medical device companies and distributors via manufacturing partnerships, and (ii) technology licensing to enable medical device manufacturers to integrate LubriShield® into their own products. The company's primary customer segments are urinary catheter manufacturers (clinical-stage focus) and advanced wound dressing producers, where its first commercial deal was signed with Absorbest AB in September 2024 for superabsorbent dressings targeting the $200M global superabsorbent dressings market and the broader $5B advanced wound dressings opportunity. The company is also active in broader device categories including venous catheters and endotracheal tubes, where biofilm-related Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) impose €7B/year in EU and $10B/year in US direct healthcare costs.
The company is led by CEO Graeme Brookes (former CEO of Reapplix, with senior roles at Stanmore Implants, Advanced Medical Solutions, and Johnson & Johnson), under Chair Wolfgang Reim (former CEO of Dräger Medical, board member of Elekta and Carl Zeiss). Board representation includes Segulah Medical Acceleration (investment since October 2020) and Anders Nørby (former SVP Global R&D at Coloplast). CytaCoat has received EU Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 1 funding and an EIC Accelerator Seal of Excellence, and the technology originated from research at the Karolinska Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The company remains privately held with 1-10 employees and operates a fully equipped chemistry laboratory, microbiology facility, and Pilot Plant manufacturing capability in Solna.
CytaCoat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CytaCoat
- Legal name
- CytaCoat AB
- Website
- https://cytacoat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CytaCoat AB is a Swedish medtech company developing LubriShield®, a proprietary covalently bonded hydrogel coating that prevents biofilm formation on medical devices without antimicrobial agents. It serves medical device manufacturers via OEM supply and technology licensing across urinary catheters, wound dressings, and other invasive devices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CytaCoat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Device Surface Coatings
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antimicrobial Wound Care (Silver/Iodine/PHMB Dressings, Wound Irrigation) (HLAHALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Advanced Wound Dressings (Foam, Hydrocolloid, Alginate, Hydrogel, Film) (HLAHALAA)
Keywords
Where CytaCoat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Solna
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CytaCoat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- OEM Solutions: CytaCoat builds capabilities through collaboration with manufacturing partners to deliver finished, packaged, and sterilized products supplied as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) solutions to medical device companies and distributors.
- Technology Licensing: CytaCoat offers its coating technology through licensing, enabling medical device companies to integrate the technology into their own products and bring them to market. This includes the first commercial deal with Absorbest for superabsorbent advanced wound dressings.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CytaCoat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CytaCoat develops and commercializes LubriShield®, a proprietary anti-fouling, anti-biofilm hydrogel coating technology that is covalently bonded to medical device surfaces to permanently prevent biofilm formation without relying on antimicrobial agents. The company sells this technology to medical device manufacturers through OEM supply arrangements and licensing partnerships, with current focus on urinary catheters and advanced wound dressings, targeting prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Product overview
CytaCoat offers the LubriShield® platform technology — a proprietary anti-fouling, anti-biofilm coating for medical devices. The platform is built on a covalently bonded hydrogel that prevents microorganisms from transitioning into biofilm-forming states without using antimicrobial agents. LubriShield™ represents the company's first clinically validated product, specifically designed for urinary catheters. The technology can be applied across a range of medical devices including catheters, wound dressings, and endotracheal tubes, targeting the prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LubriShield: CytaCoat's proprietary permanent, non-releasing anti-biofilm and anti-fouling coating technology for medical devices that reduces friction and prevents biofilm formation
- LubriShield™
Products and services
- LubriShield® Anti-Biofilm Coating Technology Proprietary anti-fouling, anti-biofilm hydrogel coating technology that is covalently bonded to medical device surfaces, providing permanent protection against biofilm formation without using antimicrobial agents such as silver or antibiotics. Compatible with polymer materials including silicone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, PVC, and polycaprolactone. Sold via OEM supply and licensing partnerships to medical device manufacturers.
- LubriShield™ Urinary Catheter Coating Permanently bonded coating specifically designed for urinary catheters that prevents harmful biofilm formation without relying on bactericidal agents, while maintaining a super-slippery, hydrophilic surface that reduces friction and enhances patient comfort during insertion and use. Targets catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in catheter manufacturers' product lines.
Quantifiable outcome
- >80% reduction in biofilm formation after 14 days of continuous exposure to uropathogens
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CytaCoat
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CytaCoat technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CytaCoat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Absorbest ABflagshipCytaCoat AB and Absorbest AB entered into a development and licensing agreement to bring CytaCoat's unique performance enhancing coating technologies to market in superabsorbent advanced wound dressings. This represents CytaCoat's first commercial deal, involving co-development of coating capabilities at industrial scale for future launch of superabsorbent advanced wound dressings and veterinary market dressings. Absorbest is a Swedish development-oriented company acknowledged as experts in consumables for advanced wound care, present in over 40 countries through direct sales and distributors with subsidiaries in Germany and USA.
- University of SouthamptoncoreCollaborative research partnership with the University of Southampton, specifically with Professor Sandra Wilks. The collaboration produced research presented at EuroBioFilms 2024 conference titled 'Long-term protective hydrogel coating for medical devices that blocks biofilm formation by multiple species'. Dr. Ana Romero served as lead scientist with co-authorship including Professor Sandra Wilks.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CytaCoat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BioInteractions: UK-based developer of biocompatible and antimicrobial surface coatings for medical devices, including anti-thrombogenic and anti-infective treatments. Directly comparable as a peer in the medical device antimicrobial coating space with B2B licensing and OEM partnerships to device manufacturers.
- Covalon Technologies: Canadian company specializing in antimicrobial coating technologies for medical devices, including advanced wound dressings and vascular access products. Directly comparable as a peer developing anti-infective surface coatings for the medical device and wound care markets.
- Bactiguard: Swedish-listed company developing infection prevention coatings for medical devices, especially urinary catheters and endotracheal tubes, using a noble metal alloy technology. Most directly comparable as a Swedish-headquartered peer targeting the same HAI prevention market with catheter coating technology — and notably, CytaCoat team member Linda Bergström previously worked at Bactiguard.
Broad incumbents
- Hollister Incorporated: US-based privately held global medical device company with leading presence in ostomy, continence, and advanced wound care markets. Comparable as a major incumbent in wound care and catheter segments that could adopt CytaCoat's coating technology or compete in the same customer accounts.
- Convatec: UK-based global medical products company focused on advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and critical care products. Comparable as a major incumbent in CytaCoat's wound care target segment and a potential large OEM/licensing partner for the LubriShield coating platform.
- 3M Health Care: Diversified global healthcare division offering infection prevention products, advanced wound care, and medical device components across hospital and consumer channels. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in HAI prevention and wound care markets targeted by CytaCoat.
- Coloplast: Danish global leader in ostomy, continence care (catheters), wound care, and bowel care products with established hospital and consumer channels. Comparable as a major incumbent in CytaCoat's primary catheter and wound care target segments — and notably, CytaCoat board member Anders Nørby was previously SVP Global R&D at Coloplast.
Emerging players
- N8 Medical: US-based clinical-stage company developing broad-spectrum antimicrobial coatings for medical devices, including CeraShield technology for endotracheal tubes and catheters. Comparable as an emerging player in anti-infective medical device coatings targeting similar indications.
- Kane Biotech: Canadian biotech company developing biofilm-disrupting technologies for wound care, dental, and medical device applications, including a coating technology aimed at preventing biofilm formation on medical devices. Comparable as an emerging player addressing biofilm prevention across wound care and medical device markets.
- Vomaris Innovations: US-based company developing electroceutical wound care technology with antimicrobial properties for advanced wound dressings. Comparable as an emerging player in antimicrobial advanced wound care — a key segment targeted by CytaCoat's first commercial deal with Absorbest.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CytaCoat social profiles
Digital presenceCytaCoat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CytaCoat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
CytaCoat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CytaCoat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CytaCoat
What does CytaCoat do?
CytaCoat develops and commercializes LubriShield®, a proprietary anti-fouling, anti-biofilm hydrogel coating technology that is covalently bonded to medical device surfaces to permanently prevent biofilm formation without relying on antimicrobial agents. The company sells this technology to medical device manufacturers through OEM supply arrangements and licensing partnerships, with current focus on urinary catheters and advanced wound dressings, targeting prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Is CytaCoat a public or private company?
CytaCoat is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CytaCoat founded?
CytaCoat was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CytaCoat based?
CytaCoat is headquartered in Solna, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does CytaCoat make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. OEM Solutions are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing.
Who are CytaCoat's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BioInteractions, Covalon Technologies and Bactiguard. Broad incumbents are Hollister Incorporated, Convatec, 3M Health Care and Coloplast. Emerging players are N8 Medical, Kane Biotech and Vomaris Innovations.
Does CytaCoat have an API?
No public API is recorded for CytaCoat.
What industry is CytaCoat in?
CytaCoat's product category is Medical Device Surface Coatings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHALAC, Antimicrobial Wound Care (Silver/Iodine/PHMB Dressings, Wound Irrigation), with a secondary code of HLAHALAA, Advanced Wound Dressings (Foam, Hydrocolloid, Alginate, Hydrogel, Film). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3841.