Preterm infants are often born with an underdeveloped gastrointestinal (GI) tract, requiring advanced nutritional support through a central line. However, this line poses life-threatening risks for these fragile infants and to date, no drug specifically addresses preterm malabsorption.
ELGAN Pharma has developed ELGN-GI, a novel therapeutic approach that allows intact delivery of insulin to the GI, promoting faster GI maturation. Shorter time to full enteral feeding means less time on the central line with its associated risks. Faster GI maturation also reduces the risk of the most feared GI complication: necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), characterized by damage to the intestinal tract.
In a phase III study, ELGN-GI demonstrated reductions in rates of infections (-26% sepsis, -78% NEC) in this high-risk population.
Due to its disruptiveness, ELGN-GI is on the path to market approval thanks to EIC support through the EIC Accelerator programme.
