Presscuff, a Flemish medical startup and spin-off from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and UZ Brussel, raised a total of €781,478 in late 2025 and early 2026. The funding comprises €605,000 raised through crowdfunding, supplemented by a €176,478 VLAIO grant from the Flemish government. Presscuff will use these funds to prepare for a larger-scale clinical trial at UZ Brussel, set to begin in early 2026.
The crowdfunding round closed at a company valuation of €8.69 million, drawing support from over 130 investors. This financing allows the company to further validate its medical technology clinically and move into its next phase of growth.
Innovation for intensive care
Presscuff develops a new type of endotracheal tube for patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation in intensive care. The technology is designed to prevent micro-aspiration: the leakage of bacteria-rich fluids past the ventilation tube and into the lungs. Micro-aspiration is a primary cause of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), a serious lung infection affecting roughly 1 in 4 ventilated patients. For 10 to 15 per cent of these patients, VAP proves fatal.
Unlike traditional tubes, which rely on a single inflated cuff, Presscuff uses a pressure-based system with two cuffs. This actively blocks the passage of mucus and fluid towards the lungs without damaging the fragile lining of the trachea.
Clinical validation at UZ Brussel
Early testing has already demonstrated the technology's potential. No micro-aspiration was detected in either a mechanical study evaluating its effectiveness or an initial clinical study of 12 patients at UZ Brussel. By comparison, the most commonly used endotracheal tubes currently reduce micro-aspiration by an average of only 45 per cent.
In mid-2026, Presscuff will launch a larger clinical trial led by Prof. Dr Joop Jonckheer in the Intensive Care Department at UZ Brussel, a vital step toward further validation and market launch.
"It is incredibly significant that this innovation stems from years of frontline experience in Intensive Care and is now being further researched clinically within UZ Brussel," says Dr Benjamin De Vlam, who manages operations at Presscuff. "This highlights how collaboration between healthcare, research, and entrepreneurship can lead to solutions for serious complications in vulnerable patients."
From the ward to spin-off
Presscuff was founded by Emiel Suijs, a former Intensive Care nurse at UZ Brussel, in collaboration with the late Prof. Dr Herbert Spapen, a former Intensive Care staff member and VUB professor. As an official spin-off of the VUB and UZ Brussel, the company bridges the gap between academic research and clinical practice.
Next steps
Over the coming period, Presscuff will focus on:
- Conducting the expanded clinical trial in 2026;
- Further product optimisation and the regulatory pathway toward CE certification;
- Building strategic partnerships both in Belgium and internationally.
About Presscuff
Presscuff is a Flemish medical startup and spin-off of Vrije Universiteit Brussel and UZ Brussel. The company develops innovative solutions for critical care, with a firm focus on scientific evidence and clinical validation. Presscuff aims to contribute to safer ventilation and improved patient care worldwide.
