Pharmabiotics for respiration: ResBiotic raises US$3M seed funding to harness gut-lung axis

30 Apr 2021 --- Resbiotic Inc. has landed US$3 million of seed funding, which will support the development and commercialization of probiotic formulations for lung health. With strategic and manufacturing partners in place, the ResBiotic team is on track to bring its first product to market in early 2022.

“This funding event is a critical step toward making these evidence-based treatments accessible to the general population, giving patients and pulmonary specialists a solution to help reduce inflammation in chronic lung diseases,” says Dr. Charitharth Vivek Lal, founder and chief scientific officer.

The US-based biotech start-up is the flagship company of ResBiotech Innovation Institute and part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Probiotics and pharmabiotics in the pipeline
ResBiotic’s first product is a medical food that targets the gut-lung axis. The proprietary probiotic blend has been shown to reduce neutrophilic inflammation in individuals with chronic respiratory conditions. 

It was developed in Lal’s Pulmonary Microbiome Lab at UAB with research and expertise from the university’s Microbiome Center, Lung Health Center and Translational Research in Normal & Disordered Development (TReNDD) program.

The company’s R&D pipeline also includes pharmabiotics for multiple chronic lung diseases. These prescription probiotic treatments can be administered by nebulization, metered-dose inhaler, endotracheal tube or oral routes.Lal founded ResBiotic in 2020. 

Unpacking the gut-lung axis
The primary cause of respiratory illness is inflammation of the mucus membrane, which results in the narrowing of airways and increased susceptibility to infection. 

ResBiotic details that chronic respiratory illness is associated with lung dysbiosis – also known as an abnormal lung microbiome. An abnormal microbiome induces further inflammation, creating a downward spiral. 

ResBiotic aims to use probiotics to break this cycle by modulating the microbiota of the lungs. 

The lung microbiota is the pulmonary microbial community consisting of a complex variety of microorganisms found in the lower respiratory tract, particularly on the mucous layer and the epithelial surfaces. 

These microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacteriophages, says the company. 

AB-Biotics is also active in examining the gut-lung axis. Last month, a study found that COVID-19 patients who consumed its probiotics once a day for a month saw “significant” impacts on remission rate, duration of symptoms and viral load.Billions of people around the world are affected by respiratory conditions.

Establishing a leadership team
The US$3 million funding comes from a private equity syndicate led by Timberline Holdings. 

“There are billions of people around the world affected by respiratory conditions,” says Braxton Goodrich of Timberline Holdings, who will serve on the ResBiotic Board of Directors. 

“We’re proud to support a top-notch team commercializing a critical innovation with the potential to transform standards of respiratory care.”

Lal has also established a comprehensive leadership team. Probiotics expert Scott Bush will serve as the executive vice president of strategy. Birmingham-based entrepreneur Dr. Sanjay Singh is a business advisor. UAB scientists Drs. Casey Morrow, Namasivayam Ambalavanan and James Mike Wells will serve on the initial Scientific Advisory Board. 

Additionally, Dr. Amit Gaggar, a pulmonary scientist and endowed professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at UAB, will serve as the chief medical officer. Andrew O’Connor, an engineer and MBA from Harvard University, will lead operations as the company’s chief operating officer. 

Spotlight on Birmingham
The company will be based at Innovation Depot, a business incubation facility in Birmingham.

“Physicians, scientists and entrepreneurs like Lal are charting a course for other Birmingham innovators to follow,” says Jon Nugent, vice president of innovation for the Birmingham Business Alliance, who has served as an advisor to the company.

Last summer, other researchers with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center found that a very low-carbohydrate diet could help improve body composition, fat distribution and metabolic health.

Edited by Katherine Durrell