UK-based biotechnology firm Stablepharma announced it has been awarded €2.5 million through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program. This grant recognizes the company’s fridge-free pharmaceutical technology, which meets EIC’s rigorous criteria for excellence, impact, and risk management.
Stablepharma is among 71 companies from 16 countries across Europe selected for this highly competitive funding round, which saw a record 1,211 proposals submitted last year. And this year’s EIC Accelerator grant marks the most competitive round in Horizon Europe’s history, underscoring the growing demand for innovative solutions across all sectors.
Tuncer’s comments validate the significance of the €2.5 million award, which acknowledges Stablepharma’s leading role in addressing the challenges associated with cold chain logistics with its fridge-free technology.
The selected companies will receive up to €161 million in grants. The equity investments will be made through the EIC Fund, the EIC’s dedicated investment arm and Europe’s largest deep-tech investor. This typically attracts additional investors and increases the overall investment to more than three times the EIC’s original amount.
Stablepharma’s technology platform StablevaX transforms approved vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics into thermostable products that do not require refrigeration. And this innovation addresses a critical global challenge: the distribution, storage, and wastage issues associated with temperature-sensitive products reliant on the cold chain.
The grant comes as the company moves forward with accelerated Phase 1 clinical trials for its lead candidate, SPVX02, a fridge-free tetanus and diphtheria vaccine in March 2025. And this achievement marks a key milestone for Stablepharma, which is on track to revolutionize the global vaccine landscape with its innovative approach to vaccine storage and distribution.
This trial is expected to be completed by early Q3 2025, with results anticipated by Q4 2025, and was part funded by Innovate UK. And Stablepharma’s projects align with their commitment to positively impact global health, reduce wastage and ensure equitable access of vaccines.
KEY QUOTES:
“This EIC Accelerator grant is a clear recognition of Stablepharma’s continued innovation and commitment to making fridge-free vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics a reality. We are incredibly proud to be one of five UK companies awarded this grant. It serves as a testament to the quality and calibre of the UK’s Life Sciences industry and its ongoing advancements.”
– Ozgur Tuncer, CEO & Executive Director of Stablepharma
“We are delighted to have received this grant, given the quality of applicants across Europe. This is a huge accolade to the Stablepharma team who have worked tirelessly to progress our StablevaX technology.”
– Dr. Steve Chatfield, Non-Executive Chairman of Stablepharma
