Origin BioMed, a maker of natural-product skin creams and oils based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, raised $3.8 million in a first funding round. Avrio Ventures Limited Partnership led the round, joined by NSBI Venture Capital and several private individuals.
Origin plans to use the funds to drive its expansion into the U.S. market. Its leading product is Neuragen, a topical preparation for diabetic foot pain, whose active ingredients are purified versions of several "essential oils," apparently including geranium oil.