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From Swedish research to global Phase 3

KDventures has supported Dilafor through clinical development up to a global partnership with Exeltis, which is now funding the continued Phase 3 development of tafoxiparin.

A major medical and resource need

A significant proportion of all births are now initiated through medical induction. Traditional methods such as prostaglandins and balloon catheters are used to ripen the cervix, but the treatment can be time-consuming, requires extensive hospital resources and does not always lead to the desired course of labour.

Dilafor’s idea is different. Tafoxiparin has been developed to mimic the body’s natural preparations for childbirth and to prepare both the cervix and the uterus before the planned onset of labour.

The treatment is intended to be administered subcutaneously by the woman herself at home in the days before the planned birth. The potential therefore lies both in a better course of labour and in reducing the need for traditional induction and resource-intensive hospital stays.

Clinical validation paved the way to a global partner

In a placebo-controlled Phase 2b study in first-time mothers, tafoxiparin showed a statistically significant effect on preparation for labour. A larger proportion of treated women had a spontaneous onset of labour or achieved a ripe cervix with tafoxiparin alone compared with placebo. The study also showed fewer instrumental deliveries and positive signals regarding birth outcomes.

Following dialogue with regulatory authorities in both the USA and Europe, the development path towards registration-enabling Phase 3 studies has been clarified.

The next major step came in 2026 when Dilafor entered into a binding agreement with Exeltis, a global player in women’s health. Exeltis will fund the continued clinical development and commercialisation of tafoxiparin in the agreed markets.

For KDventures, Dilafor represents an example of long-term life science ownership where scientific and clinical development has progressively reduced project risk and led to industrial validation through a global partner.

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