Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics Recent-Developments-in-Microbiome-Therapeutics-Nov | Page 4

Prohep. Prohep is a novel probiotic mixture composed of equal parts of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), viable
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), and heat-inactivated VSL#3 (Product of VSL Pharmaceuticals, containing
Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis,
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp).
One company making strides in cancer immunotherapy is Evelo Biosciences 5 . Evelo is developing monoclonal
microbials to target immunomodulatory pathways relevant to cancer, and autoimmune and inflammatory
diseases. In April 2016, Evelo entered an exclusive worldwide license with University of Chicago to develop and
commercialize the university’s microbiome-based cancer immunotherapy solution. Evelo also entered an exclusive
collaboration with Mayo Clinic, in August 2016, to isolate and characterize cancer-associated bacteria from stool
samples and tumor biopsies of Mayo’s patients. With a Series A funding round of $35 million and a Series B round
of $50 million, Evelo Biosciences is all set to start clinical studies on its anti-cancer microbials in early 2018.
Central Nervous System Disorders
Although the role of the gut microbiome in affecting the neuropathology of an individual is not clear, there exists
strong evidence that suggests the presence of a gut-brain axis. Several neural, endocrinal and immune pathways are
believed to facilitate communication between the gut and the brain. The two companies that are doing pioneering
research in the field of microbiome therapy for mental health disorders are Axial Biotherapeutics and Crestovo
(now part of Finch Therapeutics Group 6 ).
Axial Biotherapeutics 7 is focused on developing microbial-targeted therapeutics for underserved neurological
diseases and disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Launched
in November 2016, with Series A funding of $19.15 million, Axial has an exclusive worldwide license to related
intellectual property from Caltech in applications for neurological diseases and disorders. Through a recently
validated Parkinson’s disease mouse model 8 , researchers at Caltech inferred that targeting the gut microbiome may
provide a new approach for diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease.
5 http://evelobio.com/
6  h ttp://finchtherapeutics.com/news/2017/10/23/finch-therapeutics-and-crestovo-announce-merger-to-form-finch-
therapeutics-group-a-leading-fully-integrated-microbiome-company
7 https://www.axialbiotherapeutics.com/
8 Sampson T. R. et al (2016), Gut Microbiota Regulate Motor Deficits and Neuroinflammation in a Model of Parkinson’s
Disease. Cell, 167(6): 1469-1480.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.018
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Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics