Microbiome Report for Week Ending 1/12/19

4D pharma and MD Anderson Cancer Center to Evaluate Live Biotherapeutics in Solid Tumours

4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced on 1/7/19 a strategic collaboration to evaluate 4D’s Live Biotherapeutic oncology pipeline across a range of cancer settings.
The alliance brings together MD Anderson's translational medicine and clinical research capabilities with 4D’s expertise in the discovery and development of Live Biotherapeutics. The collaboration will initially assess 4D’s lead oncology candidate, MRx0518, as a potential treatment for solid tumours.

The first clinical study, an open label Phase I study of MRx0518 in combination with Keytruda® and conducted in collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ., USA, has been initiated and is due to open shortly. The study will enrol up to 132 patients with metastatic cancer across multiple histologies (non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer and melanoma) who have failed prior anti-PD-1 therapy.
Subsequent studies are also being planned under the collaboration, including using MRx0518 in combination with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Live biotherapeutics employ strains of gut bacteria that have been isolated from healthy human donors, and which are encapsulated, administered orally and delivered to the gut as a therapeutic. Each strain is selected for its functionality to perform a specific role in combatting a disease.

CHAIN Awarded EuropaBio Membership

CHAIN announced on 1/9/19 that it has joined EuropaBio as a full member after placing runner-up in the Biotech SME Awards announced in November. As part of this membership, CHAIN gains access to EuropaBio’s network and will receive updates from working groups operating in diverse areas such as IP, regulatory policy and personalised medicine.

The awards ceremony in Brussels was held on December 3rd where MEP Paul Rübig, who sits on the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy, hosted the awards ceremony. CHAIN Chief Executive Dr Edward Green represented the company giving a presentation. On becoming a member of EuropaBio, Dr Green said, “CHAIN is delighted to be recognised by the EuropaBio SME Awards; we are an early stage UK-based microbiome therapeutics company, so recognition on the European stage is a big boost for us and validation of our innovative technology platform. We hope recognition will raise awareness of CHAIN’s novel and highly differentiated approach to use superior live biotherapeutics to treat chronic and debilitating gut related diseases.”

EuropaBio is the largest biotech advocacy group in Europe, with members including national biotech organisations like the UK’s BioIndustry Association, industry giants Merck and Bayer, and SMEs. EuropaBio are implementing an SME platform where companies can attend workshops and webinars dedicated to providing advice and helping their development.