Synthetic Biologics and Enterome Bioscience collaborate on microbiome research

Published: 10-Jun-2014

Aim to assess the impact of beta-lactam anitbiotics on intestinal bacteria


Synthetic Biologics, a Rockville, Maryland, US-based developer of anti-infective biologic and drug candidates targeting infections, is to collaborate with Enterome Bioscience, a French developer of disease management solutions based on an understanding of the gut microbiome.

The partners will conduct metagenomic research on the effects of beta-lactam antibiotics on the gastrointestinal microflora (microbiome) of human patients. As part of this collaboration, a clinical microbiome study of approximately 100 patients is expected to begin next month.

The Enterome microbiome study, scheduled for completion in the second half of this year, is expected to provide a better understanding of the harmful effects of beta-lactam antibiotics on the gut bacterial community. The goal is to establish a 'fingerprint' of the damage caused by beta-lactam antibiotics, thus yielding a range of bacterial biomarkers that can be leveraged for diagnostic purposes.

Changes in the gut microbiome have been related to multiple diseases, including C. diff infections, antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Changes in the gut microbiome have been related to multiple diseases

'Findings from this study should support our C. diff therapeutic programme, which focuses on protecting and maintaining the balance of bacterial microflora in the gut, while also establishing our presence in Europe,' said Jeffrey Riley, CEO of Synthetic Biologics.

Research findings should provide important insights as Synthetic Biologics advances the development of SYN-004, which is intended to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics, and in particular to prevent C. diff infections. Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials of SYN-004 are scheduled to begin later this year, with a Phase II efficacy study expected to start in the first half of 2015.

'It is clear that new diagnostic solutions are needed to properly address the growing problem of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis and associated hospital-acquired bacterial infections,' said Pierre Belichard, CEO of Enterome.

'Tailoring the use of anti-infective treatments based on microbiome profiling is beginning to show great promise as a way to address the management of infectious diseases.'

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