Creature comfort as animal wound ace NoBACZ Healthcare raises £4.8m for global expansion
The investment is designed to accelerate the global commercialisation of NoBACZ’s patented ‘liquid bandage’ technology, and support the launch of new products.
Wounds on livestock and horses are typically treated with antibiotics and then covered with cloth bandages. However, this approach is often ineffective in agricultural environments where slurry can contaminate wounds, washing off antibiotics and turning bandages into infection risks.
NoBACZ Healthcare was founded by Dr Jonathan Powell and Dr Nuno Faria following their research at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Veterinary Medicine into how the body naturally builds and utilises mineral structures for its own benefit.
Initially developed to solve the problem of digital dermatitis, a disease that is painful for animals and costly for farmers – and affects a quarter of all cows at any given time – their research led to the creation of NoBACZ's patent-protected ‘liquid bandage’.
The result is a robust, flexible, and waterproof coating that can be applied as a gel, dip or spray. Unlike antibiotics and cloth bandages, it creates an instant protective barrier that seals out slurry and bacteria, allowing lesions to heal without the risk of infection even in harsh environments.
The coating is durable, yet biodegradable, safe in the food chain, intuitive to apply, and antibiotic-free. Independent large-scale studies have validated its effectiveness, including a Flock Health trial on 6,840 lambs, which demonstrated significantly lower mortality rates and higher market weights compared to the current industry standard.
NoBACZ is already active in international markets, with an initial focus on the UK, Ireland and Europe, alongside launches in New Zealand, the US and Australia. The investment will be used to finalise its new pipeline of products and accelerate the commercialisation and global distribution of its existing products. In parallel with the veterinary product roadmap, the company is also defining its human product opportunity.
Dr Jonathan Powell, CEO and Co-founder of NoBACZ Healthcare, said: “We founded NoBACZ Healthcare with the goal of transforming healthcare solutions for a more sustainable future whilst reducing antibiotic use.
“This new funding will fuel our expansion as we broaden our global product reach, launch our new range of products for the equine industry and continue to develop innovative veterinary healthcare solutions. In parallel to the veterinary product roadmap, we are starting to define our human product opportunity. We are at a pivotal and exciting moment in our company’s journey, and we look forward to working with our new and existing investors on the next phase of our growth.”
Dr Christine Martin, Head of Ventures at Cambridge Enterprise, added: “This is our third investment in NoBACZ, a company we are thrilled to continue supporting as they expand their innovative wound dressing solution to help a growing number and range of animals.”