DuPont joins forces with MRM Health to develop microbiome-based therapeutic solutions

19 Feb 2020 --- DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences (DuPont) is collaborating with biopharmaceutical company MRM Health to tackle a range of metabolic diseases via innovative solutions based on the human microbiome. The collaboration will combine MRM Health’s proprietary technology platform and selected DuPont strains to develop novel therapeutics based on live bacterial strain combinations. In addition, MRM Health confirmed the successful completion of its first external investment round which raised over €14 million (US$15 million). The funding will be used to advance clinical and preclinical development programs in the field of microbiome-based therapeutics.

“We partnered with MRM Health to jointly develop the next generation of microbiome products. Combining MRM Health’s unique technology platform with DuPont knowledge and experience provides a unique opportunity to accelerate the discovery and development of new therapeutic products in areas such as metabolic health,” notes Sebastien Guery, Human Microbiome Venture Leader, DuPont.

Guery tells NutritionInsight that this strategic partnership alongside investments in research and development is one of several that DuPont has recently undertaken to deliver microbiome science-based products and solutions to market. DuPont’s knowledge in probiotics and prebiotics, research and clinical expertise and commercialization strengths will be used alongside the proprietary MRM Health technology platform to develop novel therapeutics based on live bacterial strain combinations."

He also adds that while the company does not wish to provide extensive details on the target products that will result from the collaboration, it can emphasize the high strategic fit between DuPont know-how and pipeline and MRM’s technology platform the combination of which will allow us to address unmet needs.

“We believe DuPont’s extensive capabilities in the microbiome field together with our expertise and proprietary technology platform for developing gut microbiome-based therapeutics are a good combination in the quest to deliver a novel class of natural and efficacious solutions for millions of patients worldwide,” says Sam Possemiers, CEO and Co-Founder of MRM Health.

Funding to accelerate microbiome solutions
Based in Ghent, Belgium, MRM Health was incorporated early 2020 by MRM Technologies, a biotech center for microbiome research, in a joint venture with the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB). The latter is an entrepreneurial life sciences research institute in Flanders, Belgium, which focuses on translating basic scientific results into pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications.

MRM Health confirmed the successful completion of its first external investment round which raised over €14 million (US$15 million). The first external investment round closed with the participation of Ackermans & van Haaren, DuPont, MRM Technologies, Qbic II and VIB. The proceeds will provide MRM Health with the financing resources to advance its lead program in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to clinical studies in different patient populations. Moreover, the funding will further progress the company’s ongoing programs to deliver potential breakthrough treatments in Spondyloarthritis and other indications. 

Through the partnership with VIB, MRM Health will leverage the extensive complementary microbiome and bioinformatics capabilities of the lab of Professor Jeroen Raes, VIB – KU Leuven and the multidisciplinary know-how and patient insights in arthritis and other inflammatory diseases of Professor Elewaut and his team.

DuPont’s efforts in microbiome R&D
DuPont maintains its position as an industry leader in microbiome solutions and in the span of a year, has made significant moves in this space. Last June, DuPont’s initiative for the development of new microbiome science-based solutions, Microbiome Venture, entered into a strategic investment and partnership with BioMe Oxford Ltd. Based in Oxford, UK, start-up BioMe Oxford is developing BioCapture, a “smart” orally delivered capsule that can sample gut microbiota in both humans and animals.

Furthermore, the company released a probiotic formula touted as delivering mood, vaginal and immune health benefits for women during pregnancy and beyond. Coined Howaru Protect Prenatal+, the launch adds to the company’s Howaru range of innovative science-based solutions for improved health and wellness.

Also in 2019, DuPont opened a new state-of-the-art probiotics fermentation unit at its Rochester, New York, facility. Construction of the unit was completed in March as part of an overall US$100 million investment to expand the company’s probiotics capacity. The facility is now producing high-quality probiotics for the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries, which have the potential to provide health benefits to consumers of all ages.

Lastly, last September, DuPont brought probiotics to China via a strategic collaboration with By-Health, a leading Chinese consumer healthcare company. The R&D of probiotic dietary supplements with “new functions, new ingredients and new technologies” will be the focus of the partnership if it is brought to fruition. The collaboration helps DuPont further strengthen its position as a probiotic ingredient supplier.

NutritionInsight has reached out to DuPont for more details on the financial aspect of the collaboration.

By Kristiana Lalou