Pacific Channel portfolio company MARS Bioimaging has received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for its portable photon-counting CT scanner for high-resolution diagnostic imaging of extremities, such as the hand and wrist, a significant milestone that validates the technology and opens a clear pathway into the U.S. market.
Pacific Channel backed MARS Bioimaging through its Series Aand has supported the company at board level through pivotal stages of itscommercialisation journey, including the appointment of Dr Ojas Mahapatra as CEO and achieving FDA clearance. For Pacific Channel, the milestone reflects the value of combining disciplined diligence with active company-building support.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Roland Toder, Partner at Pacific Channel, said:
“Pacific Channel is proud to have backed MARS Bioimaging through its Series A and to have supported the company at board level through pivotal inflection points on its commercialisation pathway. FDA clearance is a defining milestone, providing independent validation of the technology and establishing a clear route into the U.S. clinical and reimbursement ecosystem.
Our role extends well beyond capital. Through rigorous diligence and active board engagement, we work with companies to sharpen execution, align regulatory and reimbursement strategy, and position for global scale. MARS has delivered on each of these dimensions.
Dr Roland Toder led Pacific Channel’s investment into MARS and served as its Investor Director through is development stage, a role now held by Paul Muckleston, Venture Partner, whose expertise is supporting MARS’s US and international commercial rollout.
MARS Bioimaging Chairman Chris Stoelhorst said: “With FDA clearance, we can now scale clinical adoption of our scanners in the United States, the world’s largest CT market. This milestone supports our mission to enhance health economics and equity by expanding access to premium photon-counting CT imaging in community-based settings.”
This milestone reflects Pacific Channel’s hands oninvestment approach: backing globally relevant deep-tech companies and working closely with them to refine strategy, navigate critical milestones, and build businesses capable of scaling internationally.
