London's Sava raises $36 million to replace fingerstick glucose tests with a microsensor
Representative image: TesaPhotography / Pixabay
London medtech start-up Sava raised a $36 million Series B led by Ascensia, announced around October 9, 2026, to bring its glucose microsensor to market.
What Happened
Sava, a London-based medical technology start-up developing a wearable glucose sensor that uses tiny microsensors in the skin, has raised $36 million in a Series B funding round led by Ascensia Diabetes Care, the company behind the CONTOUR blood glucose meters. The round, announced around October 9, 2026, also included Balderton Capital, Pentland Ventures, Norrsken VC, Simplyhealth Ventures and JamJar Investments, and brings Sava's total funding to $68 million. As part of the deal, Ascensia signed an exclusive agreement to commercialise and distribute Sava's sensor, starting in Europe, once the device receives CE approval.
Key Facts
- Round: $36 million Series B, led by Ascensia Diabetes Care.
- Total raised: $68 million, after an $8 million seed in June 2024 and a $19 million Series A in July 2025.
- Partnership: Ascensia gets exclusive rights to sell and distribute the sensor, starting in Europe, after CE approval.
- Technology: skin-mounted microsensors about ten times shorter than those used in conventional continuous glucose monitors.
- Early evidence: reported accurate readings for up to ten days in an early clinical study; reports differ on whether 25 or 50 people took part.
- Plans: scale up manufacturing, run a pivotal clinical study, and aim for CE approval and launch within 18 to 24 months.
Why It Matters
Most people with diabetes check their blood sugar by pricking a finger, often several times a day. Continuous glucose monitors, which sit on the skin and read glucose levels around the clock, have made life easier for many, but they use a small filament inserted under the skin and can be costly. Sava's approach, using much shorter microsensors, aims to make continuous monitoring less invasive and, if manufacturing scales, potentially more widely used.
The investor matters as much as the money. Ascensia already sells blood glucose meters, and its decision to lead the round and take distribution rights gives Sava a ready route to patients and doctors once the device is approved. For a hardware medtech start-up, that kind of partner can shorten the long path from lab to market.
The device is not yet approved, and the evidence so far comes from early, small studies. The planned pivotal trial will be the real test of accuracy and comfort over time. Readers should treat launch timelines as targets rather than promises.
For India, where diabetes affects a large share of adults, according to national surveys such as ICMR-INDIAB, cheaper and less painful monitoring could matter greatly if such devices eventually reach the market at affordable prices. Sava's first market is Europe, and no plans for India have been announced.
| Round | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | $8 million | June 2024 |
| Series A | $19 million | July 2025 |
| Series B | $36 million | Around October 9, 2026 |
Impact
Short-term: Sava can expand manufacturing and run its pivotal clinical study ahead of seeking CE approval.
Long-term: If approved and affordable, microsensor-based monitoring could reduce the need for fingerstick tests and widen access to continuous glucose monitoring.
Who is affected: People with diabetes, diabetes care companies, doctors, and medtech investors.
Key Takeaway
Sava's $36 million round, led by meter maker Ascensia, backs a less invasive way to monitor glucose, though the device still needs clinical proof and approval.
Questions and Answers
What does Sava make?
Sava is developing a wearable glucose monitor that uses skin-mounted microsensors about ten times shorter than those in conventional continuous glucose monitors, aiming to replace fingerstick blood tests.
Who invested in Sava's Series B?
Ascensia Diabetes Care led the $36 million round, with Balderton Capital, Pentland Ventures, Norrsken VC, Simplyhealth Ventures and JamJar Investments also taking part.
When will the Sava sensor be available?
Sava is targeting CE approval and a launch within 18 to 24 months, starting in Europe, after a pivotal clinical study.
Is the device available in India?
No. It has not been approved anywhere yet, and Sava's first planned market is Europe.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
