Da Volterra bags €20m EIB investment

Antibiotic resistance has become a global problem due to lack of novel treatments, particularly against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. French microbiota specialist Da Volterra now received an EIB (European Investment Bank) loan for a completely novel concept to fight Clostridium difficile infections. The company said it will use the €20m loan, the EIB granted under its InnovFin scheme, to push clinical development of its lead candidate DAV132.

DAV132 is an oral adsorbent (activated charcoal) designed to irreversibly capture residual antibiotics in the late ileum, caecum and colon before they can disrupt the intestinal microbiota. However, it does not affect blood concentration of the antibiotics. The lead candidate has been shown to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and occurence/recurrence  of Clostridium difficile (Cd) infections (CDI) in vivo when co-administered with antibiotics, particularly fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins. Currently, it is in Phase II. In Phase I (NCT02917200) tests on healthy volunteers DAV132 protected 90% of the gut microbiota against reduction by fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins.

The Paris-based company’s second product, DAV121, is an oral co-treatment with advanced cephalosporins and carbapenems, to prevent muti-resistant infections in hospital-settings by preserving gut microbiota in patients treated with such antibiotics. DAV121, which enzymatically degrades residual antibiotics in the gut, is partnered with the BioAster Technology Research Institute.

„Da Volterra is one of the few companies in the world that is clinically developing a new agent designed to prevent Clostridium difficile infections and the emergence of resistant bacteria by protecting intestinal flora from the disruption caused by antibiotic treatment”, concluded Florence Séjourné, CEO of Da Volterra.

”The EIB is very pleased to be supporting Da Volterra’s series of innovation and development projects in the field of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, “ said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle.“ This is an innovative financing operation that will have a strong impact on the health and daily life of Europe's citizens."