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From left to right: Jordi Carrera, Chief Executive Officer of STAT-Dx and Ambroise Fayolle, EIB Vice-President for Innovation (Foto: STAT-Dx ).
 01.06.2017

European Investment Bank provides EUR 20 million loan facility to STAT-Dx

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European U bank, is supporting the improvement of infectious diseases diagnostics through a EUR 20 million loan agreement signed today with STAT-Dx, a Spanish start-up based at the Barcelona Science Park, focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of Point-of-care testing (POCT) solutions. This agreement will serve to co-finance a three-year project aimed to develo  a new molecular diagnostics device capable of identifying a wide range of infectious pathogens a associated with diseases such as meningitis, respiratory or gastro-intestinal infections in about one hour. The STAT-Dx project has the financial backing of the European Union under the InnovFin programme in the framework of Horizon 2020.

 

The DiagCORE system developed by STAT-Dx (STAT-Diagnostica & Innovation) is a cartridge based single-test solution. By providing instant available results this new technology will enable immediate and well informed medical decisions to be made.  STAT-Dx’s technology enables clinicians to test simultaneously for the presence or absence of multiple pathogens caused by or associated with specific syndromes, allowing faster diagnostics and improving survival rates in “near-to-care” environments such as intensive care units and emergency rooms. The CE-marking of DiagCORE with a respiratory panel application is planned by the end of 2017.

The EIB loan was signed today at the EU Innovative Enterprise Conference, held in Malta and attended by EIB Vice-President for Innovation Ambroise Fayolle. It will be drawn down in two tranches over a three-year period, with full repayment on the maturity date five years ahead.  It will be drawn down in two tranches over a three-year period, with full repayment on the maturity date five years ahead. 

“Innovation and research is a priority of the EU bank”, said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle at the signing ceremony. “The agreement signed today with the company STAT-Dx illustrates the EIB’s determination to back high risk projects that have a direct positive impact on the lives of citizens benefiting from the most outstanding technology made in Europe.”

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation said: “This loan is an example of how the European Commission employs innovative financing mechanisms to support the fight against major threats to society, such as antimicrobial resistance. With this project, a quick diagnosis will enable better clinical decision-making and targeted patient management, and speed up the development of an innovative diagnostics platform for infectious diseases.

“We are pleased to have received this loan from the EIB, which brings together the strength of public and private financing to accelerate the development and commercialisation of novel diagnostic technologies,” said Jordi Carrera, Chief Executive Officer of STAT-Dx. 

“The InnovFin Programme helps bridge an important gap for innovative companies like STAT-Dx, from early market introduction to commercialisation, which is key to fostering a strong and vibrant industry in Europe that can compete on the global stage.” Didier Le Normand, Chief Financial Officer of STAT-Dx added: “EIB joins as a new reputable financing partner to bring STAT Dx, alongside its strong and supportive shareholder base, additional resources for its next stage development”.

The STAT-Dx project has the financial backing of the European Union under Horizon 2020 within the framework of the program InnovFin – EU Finance for Innovators, a new range of EIB Group products designed to facilitate access to finance for innovative business. This new EU research program was launched in 2014. Under Horizon 2020, the EU research programme for 2014-20, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group (EIB and EIF) launched a new generation of financial instruments and advisory services in 2014 to help innovative firms access finance more easily. Running until 2020, InnovFin offers a range of tailored products which will make available billions of euros of financing in support of research and innovation (R&I) by small, medium-sized and large companies and the promoters of research infrastructures.