Alesi Surgical and the EIC Accelerator: Charged Chemo Aerosols

Alesi Surgical, based at the Cardiff Medicentre, makes Ultravision, a device that uses electrostatic precipitation to clear surgical smoke during keyhole surgery by charging particles so they settle on tissue. Surgeons began using it off-label in PIPAC, a procedure that sprays chemotherapy as an aerosol inside the abdomen of patients whose cancer has spread to the peritoneum. Alesi was selected in the EIC Accelerator's October 2022 cut-off for ePIPAC, and in September 2023 described the project as "the development of a new, optimised generator and multi-electrode system for the delivery of chemotherapeutic aerosols", called UltraPIPAC, in Open Access Government.

No project for Alesi appears on CORDIS, the EU's register of funded projects, and the grant amount has not been published. The company's September 2023 article said five independent papers had reported Ultravision's use in 440 PIPAC procedures on 172 patients, and that while a first study showed tumour regression, two others reported "insufficient tumour response" and "excessive systemic absorption", confirming the need to optimise the system. No launch of UltraPIPAC has been announced since. Alesi's 2025 accounts show total equity of £6.15 million, accumulated losses of £15.04 million and cash of £661,418, according to Companies House.

Where Alesi Stands Now

Alesi allotted new shares in March and June 2026, lifting its share capital to £48,516, and appointed a new director in March 2026, the register shows. Its website focuses on Ultravision for clearing surgical smoke. Ultravision continues to be used in academic PIPAC research: it delivered electrostatic precipitation of oxaliplatin aerosol in the CRC-PIPAC-II trial, whose pharmacokinetic results were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

The Technology: Charged Particles in the Abdomen

In PIPAC, chemotherapy aerosol settles mostly by gravity, so drug lands unevenly and leftover aerosol can expose operating staff. Ultravision's electrode releases electrons that charge aerosol particles and draw them to tissue, which the company says improves drug distribution, speeds deposition and prevents leakage into the operating room. UltraPIPAC was meant to optimise this for chemotherapy.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award promised a new generator and electrode system to make electrostatic PIPAC safer and more effective. With no CORDIS project, there is no public record of the budget, milestones or results. Alesi has not announced a new device, regulatory clearance or a clinical study of UltraPIPAC. Its accounts do not include a profit and loss statement, so how EIC money was spent cannot be traced.

1. New generator and electrodesUnverifiedNot announced.
2. Clinical validationUnverifiedNo study found.
3. EU project reportingMissingNo CORDIS entry.
4. Financial sustainabilityNot yetLosses of about £1.8M in 2025.

The Money

Alesi has raised £21.2 million in share premium over its life and accumulated £15.0 million in losses. Its equity stayed around £6.2 million in 2024 and 2025 as new shares covered the losses. The size of the EIC grant and how much was paid are not public.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Peritoneal metastases have a poor prognosis and few treatments, and PIPAC is currently only done in selected specialist centres, the company says. Alesi's advisory board spans Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Denmark. The EIC selected its idea, but the public cannot see whether it produced anything.

The Verdict

Alesi Surgical and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.