Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics Recent-Developments-in-Microbiome-Therapeutics-Nov | Page 8

In another study 27 , results of which were published in February 2016, it was found that sialylated milk oligosaccharides
promoted microbiota-dependent increase of lean body mass gain, change in bone morphology, and an altered liver,
muscle, and brain metabolism. The study was conducted in mice as well as piglets and may solve a big challenge of
infant undernutrition. Researchers from Washington University, University of California Davis and Duke University
collaborated to carry out the various aspects of the study. Co-founders of the company Evolve Biosystems 28 , were
also involved in the design and execution of the pre-clinical studies. Evolve Biosystems is dedicated to developing
probiotic products for resolving infant gut dysbiosis. Their product Evivo, is a probiotic powder consisting of
activated Bifidobacterium infantis EVC001-ActiBif™. To date, the company has raised $29 million via two rounds
of funding. The company also sells GlycoGuard ® , another B. infantis based product, for nursing foals.
Results of a pilot study 29 published in March 2016, showed that vaginal microbes of the mother can be
partially restored at birth in C-section delivered babies. This finding is extremely crucial since several
epidemiological studies have found a correlation between C-section delivery and increased risk of
obesity, asthma, allergies and immune deficiencies. Building on this research is the company, Commense
Health 30 , a subsidiary of PureTech Health 31 . In March 2016, Commense obtained an exclusive, worldwide
license from New York University for a technology designed to enable microbial transfer in newborns
who may not have been exposed to vaginal microbiome, including those delivered via C-section 32 .
Further, in May 2017, Commense signed a licensing agreement 33 with the University of British Columbia for a
microbiome-based therapy for prevention of childhood asthma and other allergic diseases.
Infant Bacterial Therapeutics AB 34 is working on developing preventive treatments for infant rare diseases,
specifically Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). IBT’s lead drug candidate, IBP-9414, has been granted Orphan Drug
Designation by the FDA and the European Commission. IBP-9414 has been designed to prevent NEC in premature
infants. The initial evaluation of the results from the Phase 2 clinical trial conducted for this drug has demonstrated
similar safety and tolerability profile in the active and placebo groups. The company is also pursuing its second rare
disease program, IBP-1016, for the treatment of gastroschisis. IBT is a public company listed on the Stockholm
Stock Exchange.
27 Charbonneau M.R. et al (2016), Sialylated Milk Oligosaccharides Promote Microbiota-Dependent Growth in Models of
Infant Undernutrition. Cell 164(5): 859-871. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.024
28  https://www.evolvebiosystems.com/
29 Dominguez-Bello M.G. (2016), Partial restoration of the microbiota of cesarean-born infants via vaginal microbial transfer.
Nature Medicine 22: 250-253. doi: 10.1038/nm.4039
30 http://www.commensehealth.com/
31 http://puretechhealth.com/
32  h ttp://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160331005339/en/Commense-Advances-Microbiome-Platform-
Targeting-Early-Childhood
33  http://www.gelesis.com/press-releases/05052017.php
34 
http://ibtherapeutics.com/
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Recent Developments in Microbiome Therapeutics