The global development and option agreement will provide Caelus with funding to pursue preclinical and clinical development of its lead microbiome-based products for the prevention, early treatment and management of cardio-metabolic diseases.
The strategic collaboration with Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) also aims to further develop and ultimately commercialise food supplements based on specific microbiota for the purpose of early intervention and nutritional management of diabetes and certain liver disorders.
Caelus, part of Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS innovation hub, has established a platform based on close cooperation with the institutes of its’ scientific founders: Professor Max Nieuwdorp at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, and Professor Willem M. de Vos at Wageningen University.
It’s platform uses the potential of Faecal Microbiota Transplant studies as a discovery tool in cardio-metabolic diseases, and has resulted in a pipeline of intestinal microorganisms proprietary to Caelus.
The most advanced product is based on Eubacterium hallii (E. hallii) and will be further tested in an upcoming clinical study in obese subjects at risk of Type 2 diabetes.
The partnership will provide Nestlé Health Science with access to the knowhow of the founders of Caelus and to the product pipeline as basis for nutritional products – with an option agreement in place for NHSc to obtain exclusive global commercial rights related to E. hallii.
The strategic partnership also covers the interest of Nestlé Health Science in future pipeline products of Caelus Health.
“We are thrilled to announce this agreement which allows Caelus to advance its lead products in further development on a fast track to the global launch of food supplements targeting cardio metabolic disorders,” commented Luc Sterkman MD, CEO of Caelus.
Caelus is backed by its founding investor Life Sciences Fund Amsterdam (LSFA) and J&J Innovation - JJDC, Inc which invested in a Series A round.
The rapidly evolving universe of probiotics, prebiotics and the microbiome will be discussed in-depth at the upcoming Probiota 2020 in Dublin on February 10-12.
From microbiome advances, to start-up game changers, market stats, crucial clinical science and regulatory knowledge, this is a congressional must-have.
Will you be joining your peers in one of Europe’s greatest cities?