Pharma

Orphan drug developer Infant Bacterial Therapeutics gets $4.1 million

Clinical trials are three years away for this necrotising enterocolitis treatment.

Sweden-based BioGaia is pumping another $4.1 million into its subsidiary Infant Bacterial Therapeutics, which is developing an orphan drug focused on an intestinal disease specific to premature babies.

Clinical trials will begin sometime in the next three years, according to BioGaia. Infant Bacterial Therapeutics will need upwards of $15 million to complete its first trial. BioGaia stated it could get its subsidiary a listing on the Nordic exchange to support the costs.

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics is focused on necrotising enterocolitis, which kills about 5,200 children in Europe and the United States annually, according to the company’s site. About one-third of children with the disease need surgery.

While there is no true cure, some research is underway to identify children at risk for necrotising enterocolitis and use preventative measures to counter the disease.

This latest round of financing brings BioGaia’s total investment in Infant Bacterial Therapeutics to nearly $10 million. It had already invested close to $5.6 million.

Infant Bacterial Therapeutics has received the Orphan Drug Designation from both Europe and the United States.

Photo: Flickr user Liana_Kyle

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