Ferring & Rebiotix joins MyBiotics in biotherapeutics deal to address vaginal health
The agreement looks to expand on each firms’ expertise in reproductive medicine and women’s health, by creating standardised, stable live microbiota-based formulations addressing the vaginal infection.
Common among women of reproductive age, the condition is linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, as well as problems during pregnancy and fertility issues.
“Today’s agreement is an important evolution of our long-standing relationship with Ferring in the field of microbiota-based therapies for the benefit of women's health, including reproduction and pregnancy,” says MyBiotics’ CEO, David Daboush.
“We look forward to combining our innovative MyCrobe live bacteria culturing, delivery and colonisation technology with the world-leading development experience of Rebiotix for the benefit of women.
“The collaboration with Rebiotix builds on our successful collaboration with Ferring, and we are excited to build on that strong relationship targeted to bringing novel treatments to patients through our tailor-made microbiome technology platform.”
MyCrobe and MRT platform
Details of the multi-year agreement sees MyBiotics contribute its culturing, delivery and colonisation technologies aimed at restoring microbiome equilibrium.
The Israeli-based firm achieves this via a number of innovations that include MyCrobe, an industrial fermentation and formulation set of processes for single strain or single strain premix product development and production.
Two of MyBiotics’ products are based on this technology, MBX-MC-101 tablets and pills for antibiotic- associated diarrhoea and a combined treatment for vaginal dysbiosis, both of which are currently undergoing evaluation with a view to commercialisation.
MyBiotics’ knowhow will combine with Rebiotix’s expertise in developing clinical-stage live microbiota-based biotherapeutic products and Ferring’s therapeutic development and commercial expertise.
Rebioitx, a Ferring-owned company, brings its microbiota-based MRT drug platform to the collaboration, which looks into drug treatments capable of rehabilitating the human microbiome by delivering a range of live microbes into a patient’s intestinal tract.
The new agreement builds on the existing collaboration between Ferring and MyBiotics, initiated in 2017, which harnessed the MyCrobe technology to stabilise selected bacterial species important to female reproductive tract health.
C.diff infection
Both agreements tap into the potential of live microbiota-based biotherapeutic products, of which formulations developed to address Clostridioides difficile (C.diff) infection are making the most headway.
Rebiotix have recently completed enrolment of a Phase 2 randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study of its lead investigational MRT product, RBX2660, for recurrent C. diff. The firm also have an oral formulation for C. diff. prevention currently under development.
“We are proud to be undertaking this collaboration, as it is a critical step forward in meeting patient needs through the potential of the microbiome,” adds Ken Blount, Chief Scientific Officer, Rebiotix and Vice President of Microbiome Research, Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
“This collaboration with MyBiotics not only harnesses our collective expertise in developing live microbiota-based biotherapeutic technologies, but also reaffirms Ferring’s deep commitment to building families worldwide through innovations in reproductive medicine and maternal health.”
Ferring already have similar deal in place with the Eliava Foundation and Intralytix formed in July 2019, which focuses on developing bacteriophage-based products that targets the vaginal microbiome.
Earlier that year, Ferring announced a five-year extension of their collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet that was looking into the human microbiome’s role also in reproductive medicine, women’s health and gastroenterology.
