Pharmaceutical company Vantia Therapeutics has raised $6.5 million in a series B round. The round was co-led by Novo and SV Life Sciences, and included MVM Life Science Partners.

The funding will advance development of Vantia's two clinical candidates, VA106483 for nocturia and VA111913 for dysmenorrhoea, both of which are in phase II trials.

An exploratory phase II trial of VA111913 in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) showed promising evidence of reduced pain levels in patients. VA111913 was well tolerated and significant differences between VA111913 treatment and placebo were seen for a number of efficacy endpoints. The study identified a target population that derived a substantial reduction in period pain fromVA111913 treatment.

VA106483 is being investigated as a new treatment for nocturia in a 30-patient clinical trial to evaluate the dose-response in men aged over 65 years with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The results are expected in the second half of 2011. Data from previous trials demonstrated a dose-dependent pharmacological effect and suggested VA106483 has potential to be an effective and well-tolerated antidiuretic for the treatment of nocturia.