Archive for year: 2022

• Co-founder and CEO Mike Romanos steps down after six years to take up role of Associate Dean of Enterprise in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College
• Tim Sharpington, Microbiotica COO and experienced industry executive, appointed new CEO

Cambridge, UK, 29 November 2022 – Microbiotica, a leading player in discovering and developing microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, announces a change of leadership as Mike Romanos hands over the Microbiotica CEO role to current COO, Tim Sharpington.

Microbiotica is a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers. The Company’s platform enables unrivalled strain-level microbiome analysis linked to patient phenotypes. In March 2022, the Company raised a £50 million ($67 million) series B to fund Phase 1b clinical trials in immuno-oncology and ulcerative colitis and the expansion of its pipeline to other indications. The fundraise was the largest microbiome-related financing in Europe to date.

Tim Sharpington, currently Chief Operating Officer, will become CEO from 1 January 2023.

Mike will be leaving Microbiotica at the end of the year in order to start a new position as Associate Dean of Enterprise in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College, London. As the founding CEO, Mike has led Microbiotica over six years to become one of the leaders in the microbiome sector.

Tim Sharpington has established a track record of leading, developing and executing company strategy, with experience in product development, fundraising, M&A and licensing. He has over 30 years’ experience in senior executive and non-executive roles in pharma, biotech and CROs across Europe and the US, and has developed multiple approved products. Prior companies include Vectura, Arakis, ICON, Sequus and Open Orphan/hVIVO.

Mike Romanos, outgoing CEO of Microbiotica, concluded:
“It has been hugely rewarding to have spun out Microbiotica from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in 2016 with my co-founders Trevor Lawley and Gordon Dougan, and to see it become a leader in microbiome-based therapeutics. I’m now excited to be moving to a new role where I can use the breadth of my experience to promote enterprise and translation across biomedicine at Imperial.”

“I am delighted to be handing on the CEO role of Microbiotica to Tim, who has been an exceptional colleague and who has the leadership, experience and expertise to lead the Company to success in its critical next phase as it develops transformational products. I wish Tim and the team at Microbiotica every success.”

Hans Schikan, Chairman of Microbiotica, said:
“Since Tim joined the Company almost two years ago, he and Mike have worked very closely together and Tim is the obvious candidate to be the next CEO as the Company moves to clinical-stage.”

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Mike for his major contribution to the business. Through his strategic vision, scientific expertise and leadership, he has built Microbiotica into one of the leading microbiome companies. His close working relationship with Tim will ensure a smooth handover and is much appreciated. We wish him all the best in his new role.”

Tim Sharpington, new designate CEO of Microbiotica, added:
“Mike has been a major part of Microbiotica and he leaves the Company well positioned and financed and with a leading platform for microbiome therapeutics.”

“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Mike and the Microbiotica team for the last two years and I am excited to take the company forward as CEO as we prepare to take our lead programs in immuno-oncology and ulcerative colitis into their first clinical trials, a major step in bringing these novel therapeutics to patients.”

-ENDS-

Contact:

Microbiotica
Ro Gardner
T: +44 1223 869302 / M: +44 7801 480569
E: rgardner@microbiotica.com

Microbiotica (Media relations)
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Agnes Stephens / Giulia Lasagni / Batoul Ali
T: +44 20 7457 2020
E: microbiotica@instinctif.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Microbiotica
Microbiotica is a leading player in the field of microbiome-based therapeutics, biomarkers and targets. The Company is building a growing pipeline of differentiated products based on high quality clinical datasets and unique bacterial signatures that drive biology, identified by its proprietary platform.

Consisting of the leading microbiome Reference Genome Database, Culture Collection, mass culturing technology (Personalised Bacterial Bank) and proprietary AI tools, Microbiotica’s platform enables unrivalled strain-level microbiome analysis linked to patient phenotypes. The Company’s current therapeutic areas of focus are immuno-oncology and IBD and it has established major clinical and academic partnerships in these areas.

Spun out of the Sanger Institute in 2016, the Company is based at Chesterford Research Park near Cambridge, UK. Microbiotica’s investor syndicate includes British Patient Capital, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, IP Group plc, Seventure Partners, and Tencent.

For more information, please visit www.microbiotica.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Cambridge, UK, 20 June 2022 – Microbiotica, a leading player in discovering and developing microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, confirms its upcoming scientific conference attendance.

Microbiome Movement – Drug Development, 21-24 June 2022, Boston, US
Dr Ron Carter, Microbiotica’s CMO, will be contributing to a panel at Microbiome Movement – Drug Development, taking place in Boston, US, from 21 to 24 June. This is a key conference series for the microbiome industry, and will focus on taking a collaborative approach to close the clinical gap, discover the next generation of microbiome-based therapeutics and establish new partnerships to accelerate research.

Ron will contribute to a panel discussion entitled “Learn How to Advance Your Clinical Trial Recruitment and Progress Your Pipeline” on 22 June at 12:00 pm local time, along with speakers from Enterobiotix, Series Therapeutics, Gusto Global and Alveolus Bio.

Microbiome Connect Europe, 6-7 July 2022 – Amsterdam
Microbiotica’s Director, Cell Biology, Dr Ghaith Bakdash will be presenting on the topic of “MB097: A clinically defined consortium of bacteria with potent anti-tumour activity” at the 8th Annual Microbiome Connect: Europe 2022 conference. This conference highlights the most advanced drug development and consumer product platforms applying live microbial consortia, engineered microbes, and microbial-derived metabolites for therapeutic and health applications in patients and consumers.

Ghaith’s talk is scheduled for 9.30am local time on 7 July.

Anaerobe 2022, 28-31 July – Seattle, US
Microbiotica’s Director, Discovery Microbiology, Dr Anne Neville will be presenting at Anaerobe 2022 which takes place in Seattle from 28 to 31 July on the subject of “Anaerobic Cultivation and Strain-Banking from the Human Gastrointestinal Tract”. This conference will address both the clinical and microbiological aspects of anaerobes, as related to human diseases, animal diseases, and environmental conditions.

Anne’s talk will be at 1.45pm local time on 30 July.

Immuno UK, 29-30 September – London, UK
Microbiotica’s VP Transitional Biology, Dr Mat Robinson, will be discussing “Co-Therapy Development For Immuno-Oncology” at Immuno UK, an event focussed on the design and delivery of innovative immunotherapies to transform cancer care, on 29 September at 2.20pm local time.

-ENDS-

Contact

Microbiotica
Ro Gardner
T: +44 1223 869302 / M: +44 7801 480569
E: rgardner@microbiotica.com

Microbiotica (Media relations)
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Agnes Stephens / Batoul Ali
T: +44 20 7457 2020
E: microbiotica@instinctif.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Microbiotica

Microbiotica is a leading player in the field of microbiome-based therapeutics, biomarkers and targets. The Company is building a growing pipeline of differentiated products based on high quality clinical datasets and unique bacterial signatures that drive biology, identified by its proprietary platform.

Consisting of the leading microbiome Reference Genome Database, Culture Collection, mass culturing technology (Personalised Bacterial Bank) and proprietary AI tools, Microbiotica’s platform enables unrivalled strain-level microbiome analysis linked to patient phenotypes. The Company’s current therapeutic areas of focus are immuno-oncology and IBD and it has established major clinical and academic partnerships in these areas.

Spun out of the Sanger Institute in 2016, the Company is based at Chesterford Research Park near Cambridge, UK. Microbiotica’s investor syndicate includes British Patient Capital, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, IP Group plc, Seventure Partners, and Tencent.

For more information, please visit www.microbiotica.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.