The Swedish femtech company Gedea Biotech selected for prestigious grant funding from the European Innovation Council, EIC
Yesterday, the EIC announced that Gedea Biotech has been selected for the €2.5M EIC Accelerator grant for the continued development and commercialization of pHyph, an antibiotic free treatment for vaginal infections. The funding will accelerate the development of pHyph, bringing this treatment earlier to patients in need.
- EIC Accelerator is the most competitive program of its kind in Europe – for the November 2023 cutoff only 42 out of 1083 (~4%) applicants were selected for funding.
- The final decision was taken by a highly experienced jury who verified the uniqueness and commercial potential of pHyph.
Gedea applied for the EIC grant to accelerate the development of Gedea’s lead product pHyph via clinical validation and regulatory approval process – together with initial go-to-market steps. The formal EU Grant Agreement preparation process has already been initiated.
pHyph is a global breakthrough antibiotic-free treatment for both bacterial and fungal vaginal infections that affect >400 million women every year. Current treatments have numerous side effects, high risk of recurrence and can lead to development of antimicrobial resistance. pHyph has shown a clinical cure rate for bacterial vaginosis in line with antibiotics on the market, with a superior safety profile and without causing secondary VVC infections, a common side effect of antibiotics. The results for fungal vaginal infections are promising.
“Being selected in this highly competitive EIC Accelerator process is yet another proof of the importance of supporting women’s health and a quality stamp of our work in developing antibiotic-free treatment options for common female infections”, says Annette Säfholm, CEO of Gedea Biotech. The funding will strengthen Gedea and allow us to support our “go-to-market" efforts in all aspects of pHyph development.” says Annette Säfholm.
“Today, I am extremely proud of the team, the support from our investors and of our achievements and I am particularly grateful that the EIC has recognized Gedea’s ability to support the development of an antibiotic-free treatment option ̵ thereby fighting overall antimicrobial resistance (AMR).” says Ton Berkien, Chairman of the Board.
For further information, please contact:
Annette Säfholm, CEO Gedea Biotech
Phone: +46 708 - 91 86 81
Email: annette.safholm@gedeabiotech.com
Ton Berkien, Chairman of the Board, Gedea Biotech
Phone: +46 70- 791 49 54
Email: ton.berkien@gedeabiotech.com
About pHyph
pHyph is being developed as a vaginal tablet to treat and prevent both vaginal yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis. pHyph has no antimicrobial properties but affects the vaginal environment by lowering pH and dissolving biofilm so that the presence of yeast and bacteria develops in a healthy manner. With the dual effect against both yeast and bacterial infection, the chance of correct self-care increases, leading to reduced use of antimicrobial products and thus reduced resistance development. The naturally occurring active ingredient GDA 001 in pHyph is well-documented and is already approved as a food additive. A clinical healing rate for BV comparable to antibiotics on the market has been shown in two phase 2 studies, but with a higher safety profile and without causing secondary VVC infections that occur with antibiotics.
About Gedea Biotech
Gedea Biotech is a Swedish, innovative company in women's health developing pHyph, an antibiotic-free product aimed at both treating and preventing both bacterial vaginosis and vaginal fungal infections (vaginal yeast infection). Vaginal infections affect more than 400 million women worldwide each year, and the market is worth over $1.5 billion. Gedea Biotech was founded in 2015 in Lund, Sweden. www.gedeabiotech.com.