Microbiotica's Latest Funding Round

Microbiotica, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, England, has successfully raised £36 million in a Series C funding round. The round was led by British Business Bank, with additional participation from Tencent, IP Group, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, and Seventure Partners.

Focus on Ulcerative Colitis

Microbiotica is focused on developing precision microbiome medicines. The latest funding is earmarked for advancing the company's lead product, MB310, into Phase 2 clinical trials. MB310 is designed to treat ulcerative colitis, a prevalent form of inflammatory bowel disease affecting millions worldwide. The treatment involves a once-daily oral capsule containing a consortium of eight specific live gut commensal bacterial strains. The goal is to promote gut epithelial barrier repair and deliver anti-inflammatory effects.

Promising Early Results

The decision to move forward with MB310 comes after promising results from Phase 1b trials, which showed statistically significant clinical remission without safety issues. Carmine Circelli, a senior investment director at the British Business Bank, remarked on the potential impact of MB310, stating, "This funding allows the company to move MB310 forward into a Phase 2 trial which, if it confirms the promise seen in Phase 1b, has the potential to be a major breakthrough in the treatment of ulcerative colitis."

Company Background

Founded as a spin-out from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in 2016, Microbiotica employs a genomics-driven approach to identify bacteria linked with favorable clinical outcomes. This approach combines a diverse microbiome culture collection with a proprietary human Reference Genome Database, advanced bioinformatics, and machine learning tools.

Strategic Use of Funds

The newly acquired funds will primarily support the clinical development of MB310. Given the significant need for effective ulcerative colitis treatments, the advancement of MB310 is a critical step forward for Microbiotica.

Leadership

Tim Sharpington, Chief Executive Officer of Microbiotica, continues to lead the company in its mission to develop innovative microbiome therapies.

Microbiotica's approach and recent funding offer promising avenues for addressing unmet medical needs in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, potentially providing new hope for patients worldwide.