EXPLORE
Find the latest press releases, and resources along with links to peer-reviewed research and educational materials. This section offers key information you need to stay informed about Vitara, prematurity care, and the science driving our innovation.
Premature Birth at a Glance
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A Global Challenge
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely each year. Premature birth is not a rare event—it’s a global crisis affecting millions of families across every region of the world.
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A Growing Impact
Beyond the human cost, prematurity brings significant economic strain, totaling an estimated $26 billion annually in the United States alone. This cost doesn’t cover lifelong disabilities and years of productivity for caregivers.
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What is Prematurity?
A baby is considered preterm if born before 37 weeks of gestation. Within this category, outcomes can vary dramatically based on how early the baby arrives, making precise definitions critical for care.
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Degrees of Prematurity
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Extremely preterm: Less than 28 weeks
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Very preterm: 28 to 32 weeks
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Moderate-to-late preterm: 32 to 37 weeks
Press
Vitara Biomedical Secures $50 Million in New Funding and Appoints Kim Rodriguez as CEO
Nov 19, 2024 - Vitara Biomedical closed a $50 million Series B financing led by Sands Capital with participation from GV (Google Ventures), First Spark Ventures, Flerie, and Khosla Ventures. The funding will advance the company’s breakthrough neonatal technology toward its first-in-human clinical study. The company also announced Kim Rodriguez as Chief Executive Officer, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience in global healthcare and medical devices.
Vitara Reference Publications
Article Archive
A fetal wound healing program after intrauterine bile duct injury may contribute to biliary atresia
de Jong IEM, Hunt ML, Chen D, Du Y, Llewellyn J, Gupta K, Li D, Erxleben D, Rivas F, Hall AR, Furth EE, Naji A, Liu C, Dhand A, Burdick JA, Davey MG, Flake AW, Porte RJ, Russo PA, Gaynor JW, Wells RG.
August, 2025
Evaluation of Gas Exchange and Hemocompatibility of an Experimental Oxygenator at Anticipated Human Fetal Flow Rates in Fetal Lambs Using a Dual Oxygenator Platform in the EXTra-Uterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND) System
Kosaka, S.; Wangmo, U.; Butt, Z.; Dave, A.; Hayes, K.B.; Choudhry, A.M.; Khan, S.A.; Ngo, M.; Weisman, H.R.; White, R.S.; Varela, M.F.; Herrera Cruz, D.C.; Crompton, D.; Davey, M.G.; Flake, A.W.
July, 2025
Chronic Hypoxia in an EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development Impairs Lung Development
Maureen Peers de Nieuwburgh 1 2 3, Mallory Hunt 4, Prashant Chandrasekaran 3, Tiffany L Vincent 5, Kevin B Hayes 1, Isabel R Randazzo 1, Meredith Gunder 1, Felix R De Bie 1, Arthur Colson 6 7, Minqi Lu 3, Hongbo Wen 3, Sylvia N Michki 3 5, Jack Rychik 3, Fréderic Debiève 6 7, Jeremy Katzen 8, Lisa R Young 5, Marcus G Davey 9, Alan W Flake 1, J William Gaynor 2, David B Frank 3
April, 2025
The EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development Supports Normal Intestinal Maturation and Development
Baumgarten HD, Wright CM, Rossidis AC, Lawrence KM, Kim AG, Mejaddam AY, McGovern PE, Orr MN, Coons BE, Butt Z, Li H, Hwang G, Radu A, Brown LJ, Rubenstein RC, Peranteau WH, Davey M, Heuckeroth RO, Flake AW.
May, 2020
Fetal hypoxemia causes abnormal myocardial development in a preterm ex utero fetal ovine model
Lawrence KM, Hennessy-Strahs S, McGovern PE, Mejaddam AY, Rossidis AC, Baumgarten HD, Bansal E, Villeda M, Han J, Gou Z, Zhao S, Rychik J, Peranteau WH, Davey MG, Flake AW, Gaynor JW, Bartoli CR.
December, 2019
Erythropoietin Prevents Anemia and Transfusions in Extremely Premature Lambs Supported by an EXTrauterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND)
Mejaddam AY, Hornick MA, McGovern PE, Baumgarten HD, Lawrence KM, Rossidis AC, Hwang G, Young K, Abdulmalik O, Partridge EA, Peranteau WH, Davey MG, Flake AW.
January, 2019
Umbilical cannulation optimizes circuit flows in premature lambs supported by the EXTra-uterine Environment for Neonatal Development (EXTEND)
Hornick MA, Davey MG, Partridge EA, Mejaddam AY, McGovern PE, Olive AM, Hwang G, Kim J, Castillo O, Young K, Han J, Zhao S, Connelly JT, Dysart KC, Rychik J, Peranteau WH, Flake AW.
May, 2018
An extra-uterine system to physiologically support the extreme premature lamb
Partridge EA, Davey MG, Hornick MA, McGovern PE, Mejaddam AY, Vrecenak JD, Mesas-Burgos C, Olive A, Caskey RC, Weiland TR, Han J, Schupper AJ, Connelly JT, Dysart KC, Rychik J, Hedrick HL, Peranteau WH, Flake AW.
April, 2017
Common Health Challenges
Prematurely born infants are especially vulnerable to serious, long-term health challenges, including chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia), vision impairment from retinopathy of prematurity, cerebral palsy, pulmonary hypertension, behavioral and cognitive disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).