EXVASTAT LTD

Their core work

EXVASTAT is a UK pharmaceutical SME specialising in drug repurposing for critical care conditions. Their core work centres on developing Impentri — a proprietary intravenous formulation of imatinib (a well-established tyrosine kinase inhibitor originally used in oncology) — as a treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 and sepsis. They bring together pharmaceutical formulation expertise, orphan drug development, and clinical strategy to move a repurposed compound through the regulatory and development pipeline. Their value proposition is speed-to-clinic: by reformulating an existing approved molecule rather than discovering a new one, they reduce development risk and timelines for an unmet critical care need.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

EXVASTAT entered H2020 funding entirely focused on a single, tightly defined programme: the development of Impentri as an IV imatinib formulation. Their earliest project framing emphasised the pharmaceutical development angle — formulation science and the drug itself. As the programme matured (reflected in the RIA-funded phase), the language shifted toward clinical positioning: ICU settings, ventilation, sepsis, COVID-19 mortality reduction, and quality-of-life outcomes. This suggests the company moved from proof-of-concept formulation work into clinical-stage justification and broader disease indication framing. Both phases are essentially one coherent pipeline, not a pivot — their focus has deepened rather than broadened.

EXVASTAT is moving deeper into clinical-stage positioning for Impentri — future collaborations are most relevant for clinical trial networks, ICU research consortia, and partners with access to critical care patient populations.

How they like to work

EXVASTAT operates exclusively as a consortium coordinator — they lead both of their H2020 projects, which is unusual for a small SME and signals strong initiative and project management capability. They work in very small consortia (4 unique partners across 2 projects), suggesting a lean, focused collaboration model rather than broad network-building. This pattern fits a company driving a specific proprietary asset through development, where tight control over the programme matters more than wide partnership diversity.

EXVASTAT has collaborated with just 4 unique partners across 3 countries, reflecting a compact and purposeful consortium structure rather than a broad research network. Their geographic reach is limited to a small number of European partners, likely selected for specific clinical or regulatory expertise relevant to Impentri's development.

What sets them apart

EXVASTAT occupies a rare niche: they are a single-asset pharmaceutical SME that successfully secured EU funding twice for the same drug programme under two different instruments (SME Phase 2 and RIA), demonstrating both commercial credibility and scientific validation. Unlike academic groups working on ARDS, they own a proprietary formulation (Impentri) with orphan drug potential, giving them clear IP and a defined commercialisation path. For any consortium needing a pharmaceutical industry partner with a clinical-stage repurposed compound in critical care, EXVASTAT brings both the asset and the regulatory experience to develop it.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Impentri (RIA)
  The larger of the two grants at EUR 1,259,239 under the Research and Innovation Action scheme, this project frames Impentri as the first effective pharmacotherapy for ARDS — a significant clinical ambition with direct mortality-reduction outcomes in ICU patients.
• Impentri (SME-2)
  Secured under the SME Instrument Phase 2, this project validates EXVASTAT's commercial case as a small company with a market-ready development plan for an orphan drug in an indication with no approved treatments.