€10.7M Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund award supports Can‑Vas 001 for neonatal HIE
The award supports IND-enabling development of Can‑Vas 001, an allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapy for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) — a leading cause of death and lifelong disability in newborns with no approved regenerative treatment.
Peak 15 Bio leads a consortium awarded €10.7 million under the Irish Government's Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF), administered by Enterprise Ireland. The funding supports the programme to bring Can‑Vas 001 through IND-enabling studies and GMP manufacturing scale-up towards first-in-human trials.
Can‑Vas 001 combines endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) and mesenchymal stromal cells derived from donated full-term placentas. Delivered intranasally, the cells signal to the injured neurovascular environment to help protect neurons and rebuild the brain's blood-vessel infrastructure.
Can‑Vas 001 is investigational and has not been approved by any regulatory authority.