Karolinska Development: Dilafor’s speed to Phase II success validates business model

Karolinska Development, the technology transfer arm of  Karolinksa Institutet, said one of its portfolio companies, Dilafor AB, successfully concluded a Phase II trial of tafoxiparin, a drug for the prevention of protracted labour during childbirth, bringing the project closer to an exit, in line with Karolinska Development’s business strategy.

Tafoxiparin DF01 is one of 11 compounds within the Karolinska Development portfolio that is currently in clinical development. The completion of the Phase II study is an important milestone for Karolinska Development, exemplifying the company’s ability to develop ideas through to clinical proof of concept quickly and efficiently. In this case, tafoxiparin has taken just six years to go from research concept to its current stage.

Karolinska Development’s portfolio consists of more than 40 life science companies, each of which has access to a broad network of business, legal, regulatory and scientific expertise, enabling development times and costs are reduced compared to traditional drug development.

With seven compounds currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials, and five in Phase I the portfolio has matured to the point where Karolinska Development is now seeking commercial partners for its most advanced projects.

Conny Bogentoft, CEO of Karolinska Development, said the completion of the trial goes a long way towards validating the business model. “We are now very much focused on finding commercial opportunities for Dilafor's tafoxiparin and for several of our other projects that are reaching maturity.”