Sequence specific elimination of shiga-toxin e. coli
SPELITEC is the first treatment for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections, which affects primary young children and can be fatal in 1-5% of the cases. Currently there is no validated safe treatment: hospitalized patients receive only symptomatic treatments consisting of rehydration coupled with transfusions and dialysis for haemolytic uremic complications. The SPELITEC program is designed to finalise preclinical and initiate clinical studies for elimination of STEC bacteria (Shiga-toxin producing E. coli) in paediatric populations with a dedicated product: EB003. EB003 selectively eliminates STEC bacteria early in the disease progression; it is not expected to exert any toxicity in humans or animals; it is a multivalent mix of different capsid variants allows to target the whole spectrum of clinically relevant strains and pre-empts the acquisition of resistance through mutation of bacterial receptors; it is administered orally by a liquid/gel which is patient-friendly and adapted to young children and it represents a cost-effective alternative to antibodies against Shiga toxins. Our technology is the only one allowing the specific elimination of STECs without toxin release and without disrupting microbiota and inducing antibiotic resistance. Eligo will complete early drug development, which should ensure market authorization given the orphan and unmet medical need nature of the indication, and plans to out-license the compound to an established pharma company that will launch the product on the market.
The management team of Eligo has solid business and technical management experience in multinational companies and a very strong drug development background. During the Phase 2 project we will validate this new individualised therapeutic approach and mechanism of action by conducting the validation of the pharmacological model, the production of a clinical batch and the safety tests in healthy animals.