Pfizer's Breakthrough Growth Initiative has backed the PureTech microbiome spinoff, which will use the cash to finance phase 2 tests of its lead IBD drug candidate.

US-based microbiome therapy developer Vedanta Biosciences secured $25m from pharmaceutical firm Pfizer’s Breakthrough Growth Initiative yesterday.

Founded by pharmaceutical company PureTech Health in 2010, Vedanta is developing a lead drug candidate, VE202, that will target immune-mediated diseases using human microbiome bacteria. The cash will fund a phase 2 clinical trial for VE202 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative was formed in June 2020 with $500m in capital to fund biotechnology developers. It has already…

Edison Fu

Edison Fu is a reporter and Asia liaison at Global Corporate Venturing.