UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY

Christchurch Medtech Zuuka Seeks $2M for Wearable Drug-Delivery Platform Targeting US Launch

- Zuuka is raising up to $2 million to fund prototype development and regulatory submissions for a novel wearable drug-delivery platform, with a planned US launch in 2029. - The platform uses a proprietary low-power micro-actuator to create a miniaturized patch pump roughly half the size of current market-leading devices, with a reusable body that could reduce medical waste by up to 99%. - Beyond insulin delivery for diabetes, the technology is being positioned for Parkinson's, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and emerging Alzheimer's therapies transitioning to subcutaneous home-based administration. - The global insulin pump market is projected to grow from approximately US$8.2 billion in 2026 to over US$22 billion by 2034, driven by rising diabetes rates and recent FDA clearances extending pump therapy to Type 2 diabetes.