Nestlé funds new 'Ecobiotic' drugs targeting microbiome
15 Jan 2016
Nestlé Health Science has signed an exclusive agreement to support development of a new class of biological drugs based upon microbial organisms.
The company will invest SFr121 million (£83 million) upfront to support Seres’ ‘Ecobiotics’ to support the potential future commercialisation of drugs that target the microbiome.
Scientific research increasingly links an unhealthy or unbalanced microbiome, which comprises the 100 trillion microorganisms, to a range of health conditions.
These include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Clostridium difficile (C.diff), a potentially life threatening intestinal infection.
Nestlé said Seres' ‘Ecobiotics’ was expected to be the first ever microbiome therapy to be launched worldwide.
“We are partnering with Seres, a clear leader in advancing their pipeline in the fast evolving microbiome field,” said Greg Behar, chief executive of Nestlé Health Science and Seres Therapeutics Board member.
“We bring our worldwide footprint and capabilities in managing acute care and gastrointestinal (GI) related conditions through our diagnostics, nutritional solutions and innovative pipeline.”
The SFr121 million funding is intended to support the expansion of Seres’ portfolio in markets outside the US and Canada, and follows previous investments by Nestlé in the US-based company.
Nestlé Health Science said Seres Therapeutics would be eligible to receive development and approval milestone payments totalling up to US$660 million, and tiered single to double-digit royalties.
The full potential value of the up-front payment, milestones and royalties was over USD 1.9 billion (£1.3billion), on the basis that all products receive regulatory approval and revenue targets are met, said Nestlé Health Science.
