Spartha Medical Receives 2.4M Euros from European Innovation Council

Spartha Medical is 2.4 million euros richer, thanks to an infusion of capital from the European Innovation Council (EIC) fund.

The French medtech firm will use the money—awarded in the form of grants and equity financing—to study and evaluate its medical coating kit. Spartha Medical is among 99 innovative European companies the EIC Accelerator program selected in late 2021 to receive a grant. 

“Spartha Medical is thrilled to have the support of the EIC fund, which we will use to launch clinical trials, strengthen our infrastructure and hire new talent,” said Dr Nihal Engin Vrana, CEO of Spartha Medical. “We are set to achieve the necessary regulatory compliance steps, including ISO certification, as well as start researching the next-generation of coatings. These will propel us to the forefront in preventing post-operative infections and in fighting against resistant bacteria. By consolidating our current co-development programs and partnerships and the development of new business opportunities, our aim is to become the market leader in customized coating development services, using a platform supported by Artificial Intelligence.”
 
Spartha Medical’s medical device coatings offer antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory capabilities—including against SARS-CoV-2—making them versatile and practical for use in many surgical and patient care applications. In addition, Spartha Medical’s innovation is a unique non-antibiotic-based solution, derived from natural biopolymers that make it biocompatible and applicable to all surface types. The antibacterial effect occurs by contact on the polymer coated surfaces. With this key feature, the coating can be used on medical devices without affecting their primary function or can act as a physical antibacterial/antiviral barrier, which makes it easier to enable application on implants for at-risk patients. The company also offers a customised coating development service that optimises specific formulations to the needs of the client’s product.

The patented coatings are made of natural polymers; these natural materials are formed during the life cycle of green plants, animals or bacteria. The coatings can be personalized for any complex surface or geometry. Using them on implants limits the risk of serious complications. There is no bacterial resistance development, unlike antibiotics. They can be placed on an implant, then sterilized, packaged and stored for several years. Compatible with sterilization by steam, gamma, EtO or electron beam; they have shown efficacy against a wide range of bacteria (Gram+ and Gram-) and against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). The antimicrobial activity around implants has been demonstrated in vivo, together with an anti-inflammatory action.
  
The company is currently preparing a clinical trial to evaluate its medical coating kit, which has antimicrobial properties with dedicated instrumentation, to be used in surgeries and other patient care settings. Spartha Medical is also working on a consumer product with antimicrobial and antiviral properties, designed for daily use in personal and surface hygiene. 
 
“The inspiration behind Spartha Medical resides in Greek mythology, where a mere 300 Spartans held off an army of 70,000. Similarly, we aim to help protect and arm the public with humane and environmentally-friendly formulations to fight all forms of infection,” Vrana added.
 
About 5 percent of patients admitted to healthcare institutions contract a nosocomial infection. This can lead to dramatic situations, causing the death of approximately 37,000 people per year in Europe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 33,000 people die every year in Europe as a result of an infection with drug-resistant bacteria. WHO also has found that antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays for patients, and increased mortality.

The EIC Accelerator provides funding and investments through the EIC Fund for individual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in particular start-ups and spinout companies, to develop and scale up game-changing innovations. It is amongst the most selective accelerator schemes in Europe (with a 6 percent selection rate), the EIC Accelerator provides financial support with grant funding (non-dilutive) of up to 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) for innovation development costs. Additionally, EIC selected companies receive coaching, mentoring and access to investors and corporations.

The EIC Fund provides equity to breakthrough innovation companies that are selected for EIC Accelerator blended finance support. The EIC Fund is a unique entity; run by the European Commission and established to make direct equity investments in companies. The EIC Fund provides patient capital in the form of equity or quasi-equity (which may also be blended with a grant component), to SME’s and startups—selected through the EIC Accelerator.

Spartha Medical is a medtech company at the preclinical stage, resulting from the work of the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) UMR1121, which develops coatings based on natural biopolymers with antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Currently at the commercial phase, Spartha has signed several feasibility and co-development contracts with national and multinational companies. Spartha Medical’s ambition is to protect medical devices and all types of surfaces from the risk of infection, by offering multifunctional and easy-to-apply coating solutions. Founded in 2019 and based in Strasbourg (France), Spartha Medical is a member of BioValley France, incubated within SEMIA, and was part of a maturation project supported by SATT Conectus. It raised 1.4 million euros ($1.6 million) in October 2021 in a first round of funding with Alsace Business Angels, Yeast, WiSEED, and Bpifrance.