Efferon aims to combat pediatric sepsis with novel blood purification device

Efferon, a startup recognized in TechCrunch Disrupt 2026’s Startup Battlefield 200, is developing a medical device aimed at reducing the mortality rate of pediatric sepsis. Sepsis, an acute inflammatory response to infection, is a significant cause of death in children globally, with approximately 3 million children under five dying from it each year.

Efferon's device, Efferon NEO, is designed to absorb dangerous cytokines and toxins from a child's blood, addressing the immune system's overreaction that characterizes sepsis. CEO Dima Romashin likens the process to a fire, where endotoxins are the flames and cytokines are the smoke, and Efferon's technology can absorb both simultaneously.

The company received a CE mark in April for Efferon NEO, signifying its approval for use in Europe as the first multimodal blood purification device specifically engineered for pediatric sepsis. The device is currently in use in intensive care units across 30 countries, including in Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. Efferon is now preparing to seek FDA approval in the United States and projects reaching $2 million in annualized revenue by the end of 2026.

The underlying technology was initially developed by scientists at Moscow State University, including co-founder Ivan Bessonov. Romashin, a serial entrepreneur, joined as CEO to lead the commercialization efforts.