Investment announced alongside Relevance Ventures' sponsorship and participation

投资宣布与Relevance Ventures的赞助和参与同时进行

at NAFOA's 2026 Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference

在北美原住民财政官员协会（NAFOA）2026年秋季财政与部落经济会议上

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and SANTA FE, N.M.

田纳西州纳什维尔和新墨西哥州圣菲

,

，

Sept. 23, 2026

2026年9月23日

/PRNewswire/ --

/美通社/ --

Relevance Ventures

相关性创投

('Relevance'), one of the nation's only independently owned Native American venture capital firms, today announced that it has led a

（“Relevance”），全美仅有的几家独立所有的美洲原住民风险投资公司之一，今日宣布其已领投了一轮

multimillion Series B financing in

数千万美元的B轮融资

Aqua Medical, Inc.

Aqua医疗公司

('Aqua'), a clinical-stage medical technology company with a minimally invasive endoscopic approach to treating Type 2 diabetes. The investment was announced as Relevance participates as a sponsor and exhibitor at the

（“Aqua”），一家处于临床阶段的医疗技术公司，采用微创内镜方法治疗2型糖尿病。该投资宣布之际，Relevance 正作为赞助商和参展商参与

2026 NAFOA Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference in Santa Fe

2026年北美原住民财政官员协会秋季财政与部落经济会议（圣菲）

, where Tribal leaders, investors and financial professionals are convening around economic growth, capital access and sovereignty.

，部落领袖、投资者和金融专业人士在此汇聚，围绕经济增长、资本获取和主权问题展开讨论。

'Type 2 diabetes represents exactly the kind of challenge Relevance Ventures exists to combat. This is a significant human need with an opportunity for innovation to materially change outcomes and people's lives,' said Dean Newton, Chairman and General Partner of Relevance Ventures. 'Aqua is pursuing a fundamentally different approach to a disease that affects Native Americans at twice the national average, while claiming hundreds of millions of sufferers globally.

“2型糖尿病正是Relevance Ventures致力于应对的典型挑战。这是一个重大的人类需求领域，创新有机会在此实质性地改善健康结果和人们的生活，”Relevance Ventures董事长兼普通合伙人迪恩·牛顿表示。“Aqua正在采取一种根本不同的方法来应对这种疾病，该病在美洲原住民中的发病率是全国平均水平的两倍，同时在全球范围内影响着数亿患者。”

We believe that combination of potential impact and scale is where some of the most compelling investment opportunities are created.'.

我们认为，潜在影响与规模的结合正是孕育一些最具吸引力投资机会的领域。

Type 2 diabetes affects approximately

2型糖尿病影响大约

589 million people worldwide,

全球5.89亿人，

and contributes to more than

并贡献了超过

$1 trillion in annual healthcare expenditures globally

全球每年医疗支出达1万亿美元

, including approximately

，包括大约

$327 billion in the United States

美国3270亿美元

, according to figures cited by Aqua Medical. To address this, Aqua Medical deploys an investigational Proximal Intestinal Mucosal Ablation (PIMA) procedure using a proprietary radiofrequency vapor ablation platform.

，根据Aqua Medical引用的数据。为解决这一问题，Aqua Medical采用一种研究性的近端肠黏膜消融术（PIMA），该技术基于其专有的射频蒸汽消融平台。

'Rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical management or more invasive surgical interventions, Aqua is building a minimally invasive, device-based approach to addressing metabolic disease,' explained Bob Haggerty, President and CEO of Aqua Medical. 'Proceeds from this financing will support the completion of our ongoing U.S.

Aqua Medical 总裁兼首席执行官 Bob Haggerty 表示：“与其单纯依赖药物治疗或更具侵入性的手术干预，Aqua 正在构建一种基于器械的微创方法，用于应对代谢性疾病。”“此次融资所得将支持我们正在进行中的美国项目的完成。”

RESTORE-1 pilot study and preparations for a planned U.S. pivotal trial, subject to regulatory authorization.'.

RESTORE-1 先导研究以及为计划中的美国关键性试验所做的准备工作，须待监管机构批准。

The RESTORE-1 study is currently evaluating PIMA at participating U.S. clinical sites under an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption. The product is FDA-cleared for the coagulation and ablation of bleeding and non-bleeding sites in the gastrointestinal tract. Its use for type 2 diabetes is currently under clinical investigation..

RESTORE-1 研究目前正在美国各参与临床中心，根据美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准的 investigational device exemption（IDE，研究用器械豁免）对 PIMA 进行评估。该产品已获 FDA 批准，用于胃肠道出血和非出血部位的凝固和消融。其在2型糖尿病中的应用目前正处于临床研究阶段。

'Our investment philosophy is aimed at solving meaningful problems while creating enduring businesses,' said Cameron Newton, Managing Partner of Relevance Ventures. 'That means backing companies across personal health, digital health, community health and financial health that address systemic challenges while pursuing market-rate financial outcomes.

“我们的投资理念旨在解决有意义的问题，同时打造持久的企业，”Relevance Ventures 的管理合伙人卡梅伦·牛顿表示，“这意味着支持那些在个人健康、数字健康、社区健康和财务健康领域应对系统性挑战并追求市场水平财务回报的企业。”

Aqua fits squarely within that framework.'.

Aqua 完全契合该框架。

It's fitting that Relevance announced this investment while co-sponsoring and attending NAFOA, highlighting how Native -owned capital can support the development of treatments for Native health challenges. 'NAFOA is an important gathering because it brings together leaders thinking seriously about capital, sovereignty and long-term economic strength,' added Kelly Holmes, Venture Partner & Tribal Ambassador of Relevance Ventures.

Relevance 在联合赞助并出席美国原住民金融官员协会（NAFOA）年会期间宣布此项投资，恰如其分地突显了原住民自有资本如何支持针对原住民健康挑战的治疗方案开发。Relevance Ventures 的风险投资合伙人兼部落大使凯利·霍姆斯补充表示：“NAFOA 是一次重要的盛会，因为它汇聚了那些认真思考资本、主权和长期经济实力的领导者们。”

'For us, announcing an investment like Aqua in that environment reinforces that Native participation in the capital markets brings real benefits to Indian Country, while not being limited to one sector or one geography.'.

“对我们而言，在这样的环境下宣布对Aqua的投资，进一步印证了原住民群体参与资本市场能够为印第安地区带来切实利益，且这种参与并不局限于某一行业或某一地域。”

Additionally, as part of the financing deal, Dean Newton has joined Aqua Medical's Board of Directors. This furthers the confidence and alignment between Relevance Ventures and Aqua Medical, committing to be not just a capital provider, but a true partner for companies creating lasting health outcomes..

此外，作为融资协议的一部分，迪恩·牛顿（Dean Newton）已加入 Aqua Medical 的董事会。此举进一步增强了 Relevance Ventures 与 Aqua Medical 之间的信任与战略协同，承诺不仅充当资本提供方，更成为致力于创造持久健康成果企业的真正合作伙伴。

About Relevance Ventures

关于 Relevance Ventures

Relevance Ventures is a Native American, privately owned and operated venture capital firm with more than $100 million under management. The firm invests in high-growth companies across personal health, community health, digital health, and financial health. Founded by Cameron and Dean Newton, Relevance is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with an expanding presence in multiple U.S.

Relevance Ventures 是一家由美洲原住民拥有并私营的风险投资公司，管理资产超过1亿美元。该公司投资于个人健康、社区健康、数字健康和财务健康领域的高增长企业。Relevance 由 Cameron Newton 和 Dean Newton 创立，总部位于田纳西州纳什维尔，在美国多个地区的影响力不断扩大。

growth markets. The Newtons are members of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia. For more information, visit .

增长市场。牛顿家族是弗吉尼亚州帕塔沃梅克部落的成员。欲了解更多信息，请访问。

www.Relevanceventures.com

www.Relevanceventures.com

.

。

About Aqua Medical

关于Aqua Medical

Aqua Medical is a clinical-stage medical technology company advancing a minimally invasive, through-the-working-channel-of-the-scope technology to address Type 2 diabetes. Using its proprietary radiofrequency vapor ablation (RFVA) system for the Proximal Intestinal Mucosal Ablation (PIMA) procedure, the company aims to deliver a scalable, device-based approach intended to address mechanisms associated with Type 2 diabetes and potentially improve metabolic outcomes..

Aqua Medical 是一家处于临床阶段的医疗技术公司，正在推进一种微创的、经内镜工作通道操作的技术，以应对2型糖尿病。该公司利用其专有的射频蒸汽消融（RFVA）系统进行近端肠黏膜消融（PIMA）手术，旨在提供一种可扩展的、基于器械的治疗方案，以针对与2型糖尿病相关的机制，并 potentially 改善代谢结局。

The RFVA system is FDA-cleared for marketing for its indicated use in the gastrointestinal tract. Use of the RFVA system for the PIMA procedure is investigational. The safety and effectiveness of the RFVA system for the PIMA procedure have not yet been established.

RFVA系统已获美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）批准上市，用于其在胃肠道中的指定用途。将RFVA系统用于PIMA手术属于研究性用途。RFVA系统在PIMA手术中的安全性和有效性尚未确立。

Forward-Looking Statements

前瞻性陈述

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Aqua Medical's investigational technology, clinical development activities, and future expectations. Actual results may differ materially. Aqua Medical encourages patients to reach out to the company or their physician to explore the opportunity to be treated with this new technology..

本新闻稿包含有关Aqua Medical公司研究性技术、临床开发活动及未来预期的前瞻性陈述。实际结果可能存在重大差异。Aqua Medical鼓励患者联系本公司或其主治医生，以探索接受此项新技术治疗的机会。

SOURCE Relevance Ventures

来源：Relevance Ventures

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