Microbiotica Expands Management Team with Appointments of Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer

/in /by
  • Ronald Carter, MD appointed as Chief Medical Officer
  • Tim Sharpington appointed as Chief Operating Officer

Cambridge, UK, 04 February 2021 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, today announces the appointment of Ronald Carter, MD, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and the appointment of Tim Sharpington as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Ron Carter joins the Company as CMO at an important stage of its development, with major development programmes currently underway in Immuno-oncology and IBD. He will be responsible for progressing the clinical development of the Company’s Live Bacterial Therapeutics and Biomarkers, and expanding its clinical footprint beyond the UK.

He has over 30 years of clinical development experience across Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. He joins Microbiotica from prior roles as Chief Medical Officer at Mologen, Indivumed, and MaaTPharma, where he progressed full ecosystem microbiome restoration therapy for cancer patients. Most recently, he held the role of Senior Medical Director at Seres Therapeutics. He has previous experience within the microbiome space, having taken charge of multiple first-in-man studies across Europe that involved faecal microbiota transplantation in leukemia and GvHD (graft-versus-host disease).

Tim Sharpington has held executive and Board-level leadership positions in pharma, biotech and CRO companies in the UK and US. Tim has established a track record of leading, developing and executing company strategy, with experience in product development, fundraising, M&A and licensing. Prior companies in include hVIVO, Vectura, Ixixo, Arakis Ltd, ICON, Sequus Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer. Tim has led the successful development of several pharmaceutical products in the anti-infective, oncology and anti-inflammatory areas.

As COO, Tim will be responsible for development strategy and development operations across the Company, working closely with CEO Mike Romanos to develop and execute the Company’s corporate strategy and financing. He will also work closely with the Company’s CMO and Chief Scientific Officer, managing Microbiotica’s product portfolio.

Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ron and Tim to the Company. These appointments strengthen the Company’s management team further. Tim has strong experience in biotech leadership roles and in the strategy and operations of product development in the biotech space, and will be of great value to the Company as we advance our portfolio and partnerships. Ron has a wealth of expertise in clinical development of both oncology and microbiome therapeutics whose knowledge in executing clinical programmes will be instrumental in helping us progress development of our best-in-class Live Bacterial Therapeutic products. I look forward to working closely with both of them.”

Ron Carter, CMO of Microbiotica, said: “Having previously worked in the microbiome space, I firmly believe in the potential that this field has to impact all aspects of medicine. Microbiotica’s discovery platform enables the precise identification of specific bacterial signatures that drive patient phenotype and can serve as therapeutics or biomarkers. I am excited by the opportunity to oversee the Company’s clinical development and help bring successful Live Bacterial Therapeutics and Biomarkers to areas of unmet medical need.”

Tim Sharpington, COO of Microbiotica, said: “Microbiotica is at the forefront of the microbiome field, and is at an important and exciting stage of its development. I’m looking forward to getting started and working with the rest of the management team to help develop and execute the best corporate strategy to build further value for the Company’s shareholders.”

-ENDS-

Contact:

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

Instinctif Partners
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Phil Marriage
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 best-in-class differentiated products based on high quality clinical datasets and unique bacterial signatures that drive biology, identified by its proprietary platform.

Consisting of the world’s 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, including a $534 million collaboration with Genentech.

Spun out of the Sanger Institute in 2016 by Dr Mike Romanos, Dr Trevor Lawley and Professor Gordon Dougan, the Company is based at Chesterford Research Park near Cambridge, UK. Microbiotica’s investor syndicate includes Cambridge Innovation Capital, IP Group plc and Seventure Partners.

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

Microbiotica Wins Young Company of the Year at Business Weekly Awards

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 18 September 2020 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, has been named Business Weekly Young Company of the Year 2020.

The “Young Company of the Year” category is awarded to the most exciting recently incorporated enterprise in any sector that has made significant progress in the last 12 months. Microbiotica has been recognised for its continued development in using human data to drive new therapeutic strategies in the microbiome to fulfil its potential as a new class of medicine.

Microbiotica has addressed the challenges of taking microbiome therapeutics into a rational, data-driven era. Its platform, evolved from technology developed over more than a decade at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, comprises the world’s leading microbiome Culture Collection and Reference Genome Database, advanced Microbiome Bioinformatics and Machine Learning technology, and an unprecedented capability to isolate all the gut bacteria from any one human. The Company is able to use these tools to comprehensively analyse large clinical datasets, discern specific bacteria associated with patient phenotypes, and identify candidates for therapeutics or biomarkers to manage drug treatment.

Earlier this year, the Company signed a collaboration agreement with Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) to develop microbiome co-therapeutics and biomarkers for cancer patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This collaboration represents further progress by the Company into the immuno-oncology field, having discovered a key predictive biomarker and therapeutic with an established preclinical proof-of-concept.

This collaboration is a further validation of the Company’s technology following a major collaboration with Genentech/Roche in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and one with University of Adelaide to develop novel bacterial therapy for Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The therapeutic in UC has also made significant progress in the past 12 months, with key preclinical proof-of-concept established.

Dr Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said of the win: “This year has been significant for Microbiotica; and Dr Trevor Lawley (co-founder and CSO) and I are proud that the company has been recognised for the milestones it has achieved over the past year. Winning this award is a testament to the entire team here, as well as the quality of our ongoing programmes and collaborations. I believe that we have built a world-leading platform that best positions us to explore the microbiome as a new class of medicine in a wide range of diseases, with much further progress in the coming years”

Microbiotica Announced as a Finalist in ‘Best Emerging Biotech Company’ Category at OBN Awards 2020

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 9 September 2020 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, been selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Emerging Biotech Company’ category at the OBN Awards 2020. The winners will be announced on Thursday 26th November.

Microbiotica has established itself as a leading global player in its field, and most recently it has been recognised for its collaboration with Cancer Research UK and CUH. This has so far allowed the company to discover the first gut bacterial signature predictive of drug response of immuno-oncology checkpoint inhibitors which it is developing as a potentially transformational medicine to convert non-responding patients to responders. This collaboration is a further validation of the Company’s technology following a major collaboration with Genentech/Roche in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and one with University of Adelaide to develop novel bacterial therapy for Ulcerative Colitis.

The OBN Awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate outstanding achievement throughout the life sciences industry. The awards seek to shine a light on companies at all stages of development, recognising inspirational leadership, exciting innovation, novel and exciting approaches, outstanding company progression, fresh thinking around collaborations and deal-making as well as the critical role that support organisations play in helping the life sciences industry thrive.

Dr Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said: “The OBN awards are one of our industry’s most prestigious awards as judged by a panel of leading industry entrepreneurs and experts. We are delighted to receive the industry-wide recognition that being shortlisted for Best Emerging Biotech Company brings. This is testament to the outstanding achievements made by Microbiotica in its four years of existence.”

Details of the awards ceremony are as follows:

OBN Awards 2020
Date: 26 November 2020
Venue: The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London
For more information, see here: https://obn-awards.com/

Microbiotica Co-founder Professor Gordon Dougan Receives 2020 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 13 August 2020 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, today congratulates Co-founder Gordon Dougan, FRS, Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease at the University of Cambridge, on being awarded the 2020 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal, now in its 27th year, is Sabin’s highest scientific honour, and is given each year to a distinguished member of the global health community who has made extraordinary contributions to vaccinology or a complementary field. Past award recipients include leaders of vaccinology and vaccine advocacy such as Drs. D.A. Henderson, Maurice Hilleman, Anne Gershon, Myron Levine and Paul Offit.

Professor Dougan’s research in vaccine discovery and delivery has focused on two key areas; equitable access to vaccines and information, and the application of genomics to enable vaccine development. After earning his doctoral degree from Sussex University, he spent 10 years at the Wellcome Foundation, where his team utilised recombinant engineering to define the protective antigen, pertactin, now a component of whooping cough vaccines. He then moved to Imperial College London, where he established the Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection.

Next, Professor Dougan assembled a world class program for teaching and research at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. While there, he built a department that led research on pathogen genomics and disease tracking, put antimicrobial resistance on the map as a major public health concern and pioneered the construction of attenuated strains of salmonella to aid in the development of typhoid vaccines. The open access data and technology generated under his leadership at the Institute directly impacted the creation of vaccines against many diseases including pertussis, typhoid fever and cholera, and his multi-faceted coalition-building work with the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, led to the successful delivery of several affordable vaccines around the world.

“I’m honoured to receive this award named after Dr. Sabin, whose ground-breaking invention and successful global distribution of the trivalent oral polio vaccine relates to some of my proudest professional accomplishments,” said Professor Dougan. “Open access data and technology has empowered scientists and researchers, including in low- and middle-income countries, to accelerate progress on vaccines that may be of low commercial priority, but make a substantial difference to the quality of life and health of vulnerable populations around the world. I am proud to have supported this work.”

Mike Romanos, Co-founder and CEO, Microbiotica, added: “Throughout Gordon’s distinguished career he has made an enormous contribution to the field of vaccinology, particularly in working to improve vaccine delivery to poorly resourced regions. His knowledge and expertise in analysing microbial populations is one of the cornerstones upon which Microbiotica was founded, and is helping to advance new therapeutic strategies in the microbiome. On behalf of everyone at Microbiotica, I would like to congratulate him in receiving this prestigious award.”

View the video highlighting the 2020 Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal, including remarks by Professor Dougan and his introducers, Dr. Myron M. Levine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Dr. Anthony Scott, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Microbiotica, Cancer Research UK and Cambridge University Hospitals collaborate in landmark cancer microbiome study

/in /by
  • Collaboration in immuno-oncology microbiome therapeutic and biomarker development
  • Partnership based on class-leading MELRESIST melanoma study and new MITRE landmark study in 1,800 patients in multiple cancers
  • Uses Microbiotica’s unrivalled microbiome platform

Cambridge, UK, 8 June 2020 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, Cancer Research UK and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (“CUH”), today announce a collaboration to identify and develop microbiome co-therapeutics and biomarkers for cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

The collaboration is based on clinical studies conducted by CUH that evaluate immune checkpoint inhibitor drug response in cancer patients, combined with Microbiotica’s unrivalled microbiome profiling and analysis capability.

Two clinical studies are involved: MELRESIST, a completed class-leading melanoma study, and MITRE, a major landmark study in melanoma, lung and renal cancer, involving 1,800 patients, specifically designed for evaluation of microbiome and other biomarker effects.

The MITRE study will be co-led by Dr Trevor Lawley, Microbiotica’s co-founder and CSO, and Dr Pippa Corrie, Consultant in Medical Oncology at CUH, and will involve comprehensive patient sample collection, data collection and biochemical analysis, with medicines provided by the NHS. Microbiotica will undertake mass culturing of patient gut bacteria, microbiome sequencing and machine learning analysis.

Checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the management of cancer, due to the range of cancers that can be treated and their high levels of efficacy, including complete remission in some cases. However, response rates are low, typically in the range 10-40 % of patients. There is therefore a major unmet need for co-therapies to extend the number of responders and for biomarkers to stratify patients for treatment.

Several studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays a critical and causative role in determining which patients respond to these medicines. However thus far they have failed to identify a consistent gut bacterial signature associated with treatment response or resistance. Microbiotica has used its unique microbiome profiling platform with MELRESIST data to identify for the first time a common signature predictive of drug response across multiple melanoma studies, and this is being progressed within the Company. MITRE will take this further by examining the effects in different cancers, a range of immunotherapy regimens, as well as association with side-effects of immunotherapy.

Microbiotica’s platform comprises the world’s leading Reference Genome Database and Culture Collection of gut bacteria, and an unrivalled capability to culture and characterise all gut bacteria from patients at scale. This is complemented by a suite of bioinformatic and machine learning tools that enable the identification of previously undetectable gut bacterial signatures linked to patient phenotype. The Company also has capabilities to develop and take such products to the clinic.

The collaboration will identify specific gut bacterial signatures correlated with drug efficacy and side effects in patients under treatment for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and renal cancer. From these signatures, Microbiotica will progress live bacterial products as co-therapies and microbiome biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy response and toxicity into the clinic.

Mike Romanos, Co-founder and CEO, Microbiotica, said:

“Checkpoint inhibitors have already impacted the lives of many cancer patients for the better but fewer than half of patients respond. There is strong evidence that response rates can be increased through manipulation of the microbiome and Microbiotica’s platform has already been able to identify consistent bacterial signatures predictive of drug response in melanoma for the first time.

“The collaboration enables us to base our therapeutic and biomarker programs on two exceptional studies, MELRESIST and MITRE, bringing together well-powered data in patient efficacy and safety response, immunological and tumour biochemistry, with the most comprehensive microbiome classification and analysis.

“We have been applying our technology in other large-scale clinical studies to identify drug response signatures for biomarker and therapeutic discovery, such as our collaboration with Genentech in IBD, the most precise large-scale microbiome clinical study to date. We are delighted that Cancer Research UK and CUH have also recognized Microbiotica’s leadership in the microbiome and have chosen to partner with us in this landmark cancer microbiome study.”

Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer, Cancer Research UK, said:

“Cancer Research UK is always looking at the most promising new science to advance the treatment of patients, and we believe that the microbiome represents a very exciting new area that could play a major role in cancer therapy. We believe this partnership is very well placed to do the quality of science required to identify the specific link between the gut microbiome and checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancers. We look forward to working with the excellent teams in Microbiotica and Cambridge University Hospitals to progress new microbiome medicines and biomarkers toward the clinic.”

Microbiotica Statement About Chairman Thomas Lynch

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 14 May 2020 – It was with great sadness that the Board of Microbiotica learned of the death of its Chairman, Thomas Lynch, who passed away on 1st April 2020. Thomas had been Chairman of Microbiotica since September 2019 and brought a wealth of experience and guidance to the Board. Thomas had a highly successful and lengthy career with major impacts on many enterprises, spanning the biotech/pharma, hospital and charity sectors, both in his native Ireland and in multiple countries. He will be missed by all at Microbiotica, and by all who knew him. The Board’s sincere condolences go to his family.

Sam Williams, Investor Director for IP Group, will assume the role of Acting Chairman with immediate effect. Sam was Chairman of the Microbiotica Board prior to Thomas taking up the role.

Microbiotica to Attend Key Industry Conferences in Q1 2020

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 9 January 2020 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics, confirms its upcoming investor and scientific conference attendance during Q1 2020.

Biotech Showcase 2020, 13-15 January 2020, San Francisco, US

Held during the week of the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, the conference provides private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place. Now in its 12th year, the Biotech Showcase features multiple tracks of presenting companies, plenary sessions, workshops, networking, and an opportunity to schedule one-to-one meetings.

– Microbiotica’s CEO Mike Romanos will be presenting from 11:45am on 14 January at the Hilton Hotel on Union Square.

LSX World Congress, 4-5 February 2020, London, UK

The sixth annual LSX World Congress will take place in London, bringing together executives from the biotech, medtech, healthtech and pharma industries, along with the sector’s most active investors, stakeholders and service companies. Mike Romanos will be participating in a panel discussing the growing trend of collaboration partnerships between pharma and biotech companies with platform technologies.

– Platforms and Partnerships Panel Discussion: 5 February 2020, 12:30 – Mike Romanos on panel

Microbiome Movement – Drug Development Europe, 4-6 February 2020, London, UK

One of the key conference series for the microbiome industry, Microbiome Movement – Drug Development Europe is now in its fourth year. The conference will bring leading scientists from the biopharmaceutical and academic community to discuss the causal role of the microbiome in disease and the development of next-generation microbiome-targeted therapeutics. Mike Romanos and Trevor Lawley will both be speaking at the event.

– Microbiome Leaders Panel Discussion: 5 February, 8:30-9:30am – Mike Romanos on panel

– Rational Design of Gut Microbiome Biomarkers and LBTs to Optimize Cancer Immunotherapy:
6 February, 8:30-9:00am – talk by Trevor Lawley

– Current Innovation & Future Integration of Microbiome-Based Approaches into Routine Oncology Practice – Panel Discussion: 6 February, 10:00-10:30am – Trevor Lawley on panel

Sachs European Life Sciences CEO Forum, 19-20 February 2020, Zurich, Switzerland

Now in its 13th year, the global bio-pharma industry forum addresses the main challenges for 2020 in investment and partnering. Key sector players contribute their insights in panels which cover the macro landscape as well as innovation and the latest breakthroughs in different therapeutic areas. Mike Romanos will be taking part in a panel at the event.

– Pharma DealMakers Roundtable: 20 February, 9:00-9:50am – Mike Romanos on panel

Microbiotica relocates to Chesterford Research Park, Cambridge

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 19 November 2019: Chesterford Research Park and Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, announce that Microbiotica is relocating to the Park in a two-phase move that will be completed in June 2020.

Microbiotica’s continuing development and expansion, and the ability of Chesterford Research Park to flexibly accommodate both Microbiotica’s immediate and longer-term growth requirements led to the Park being chosen as the preferred location.

Under the first phase of the relocation, Microbiotica is taking two suites within Chesterford Research Park’s Science Village, a short-term solution to facilitate current growth requirements. Until June 2020 Microbiotica will retain its current premises at the Wellcome Genome Campus, at which point the whole organisation will move into its own purpose designed facilities in the Newnham Building, which is currently undergoing reconfiguration and refurbishment.

Situated on a prominent position on the Park, within close reach of the well-appointed central Nucleus facilities, the Newnham Building will provide a newly constructed double height glazed reception to the western entrance as well as a new entrance to the eastern end of the building. The flexibility of the building has enabled it to be divided into individual suites, which can cater for a range of differing scientific activities.

Mike Romanos, Co-founder and CEO, Microbiotica said: “Following a period of rapid progress we require a new facility to support our current growth trajectory and to allow us to consolidate our whole team in one building. It is also important for us to stay in the Cambridge area and to continue to play an active role in the Cambridge life sciences cluster community. Chesterford Research Park has provided us with a solution for our immediate short-term expansion, which was important before our permanent facility, tailored to suit our future needs, is ready in Summer 2020. We very much appreciate the flexibility that Chesterford Research Park has shown us.”

There has been a high level of interest in the Newnham Building. Confirmation of Microbiotica’s pre-let, coupled with the recent announcement that existing Park occupier, Isomerase is also committed to a suite, leaves just one 11,518 sq ft (1,070 sq m) suite. This is currently being marketed by Savills and Cheffins.

William Clarke, Director, Office & R&D, Savills Cambridge Office commented: “Interest in the Newnham building has been exceptional, and I’m delighted that via flexibility of approach we have been able to accommodate Microbiotica’s requirements, both now and into the longer term. Chesterford’s development strategy is astute and is now paying dividends as it has enabled a range of accommodation to be created, suitable for both start-up and scale-up companies. It also gives us the ability to think creatively about suitable options for organisations such as Microbiotica, answering both short-term need and long-term expectations.”

Julian Cobourne, Senior Asset Manager, Aviva Investors, joint owners of Chesterford Research Park with Uttlesford District Council commented: “The combined commitment of both Aviva Investors and Uttlesford District Council to support the growing Cambridge cluster via the provision of superb lab/R&D facilities suitable for companies at all stages of development continues to drive our development objectives for Chesterford Research Park. The development of the Newnham Building has created significant interest; resulting in our increased ability to support both current occupiers as their requirements change and grow, in addition to attracting new occupiers to the Park. Chesterford Research Park is a vibrant community of exciting companies all concentrated on delivering the life science innovations of the future and I am delighted to welcome Microbiotica to that community.”

Microbiotica Appoints Thomas Lynch as Independent Non-Executive Chairman

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 25 September 2019 – Microbiotica, announces the appointment of Thomas Lynch as the new non-Executive Chairman of its Board, from 1 September 2019.

Thomas Lynch brings extensive life sciences and wider board-level experience which will be invaluable in supporting Microbiotica’s strategic growth. He currently holds a number of board positions on private and publicly listed life science companies globally. These include: Chairman of Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Adherium Ltd (ASX: ADR), Evofem Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVFM) and Amarin Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd (the principal operating subsidiary of Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN)); and Board member of Stamford Devices Ltd, Aerogen Ltd and GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH). He served on the board of Icon plc (one of the world’s largest clinical research organisations) from 1993 to 2016, and from 2012 to 2016 as its Chairman.

Thomas also has significant experience governing hospital and medical charity boards. He is the Chair of the Ireland East Hospital Group, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the Dublin Academic Medical Centre. Thomas is also the Chair of Clinical Research Development Ireland (a not-for-profit research partnership between Ireland’s medical schools), and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. He has previously served as a member of the Expert Group on Resource Allocation in the Health Service.

Thomas started his career at KPMG, before moving onto Elan Corporation plc (now merged with Perrigo (NYSE: PRGO)) where he served as CFO, Vice Chairman and a Senior Advisor over eight years, leading its transition from drug delivery to biotechnology. He founded a company that became Warner Chilcott plc (acquired by Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN)), and was Chairman and Chief Executive of Amarin Corporation plc, which he successfully repositioned as a cardiovascular company.

Thomas graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in Economics and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He has received honorary doctorates from University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast and was appointed a knight of Saint Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI.

Thomas Lynch, non-Executive Chairman of Microbiotica, said: “The microbiome is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting areas of biomedicine and one that I believe presents great opportunity. Microbiotica’s world-leading platform positions the Company to become a leader in microbiome-based therapeutics and biomarkers, as illustrated by its impressive ongoing collaborations with industry, academia and clinicians. I look forward to working with the Board and the team at Microbiotica to help steer its growth trajectory and maximise the Company’s potential to bring new therapies to market.”

Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tom as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Microbiotica has progressed considerably since spinning out of the Sanger Institute in 2016: in its capabilities, its pipeline of therapeutics and biomarkers, and strategic collaborations such as the multi-year $534m partnership with Genentech. Tom’s international experience in developing fast-maturing companies will be invaluable to our future ambitions. We would also like to thank Sam Williams, who has chaired our Board since the Company’s inception and who will continue as a non-executive investor director.”

Microbiotica announced as a finalist in ‘Best Partnership Alliance’ category at Scrip Awards 2019

/in /by

Cambridge, UK, 18 September 2019 – Microbiotica, a leading player in microbiome-based live therapeutics, has been selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Partnership Alliance’ category at the Scrip Awards 2019. The winners will be announced on 4 December 2019.

Microbiotica has been recognised for its multi-year strategic collaboration with Genentech, which was announced in June 2018. The collaboration, worth up to $534m, is to discover develop and commercialise biomarkers, targets and medicines for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Under the agreement, Microbiotica is utilising its precision metagenomics microbiome platform to analyse patient samples from clinical trials of Genentech’s investigational IBD medicines.

The Scrip Awards, now in their 15th year, seek to recognise the essential role that the pharmaceutical, biotech and other allied industries play in improving healthcare. The awards span the entire range of industry activities, from new drug launches and clinical trials, to innovative deals, outsourcing and funding.

Dr Mike Romanos, CEO of Microbiotica, said: “The Scrip Awards are one of our industry’s most prestigious awards, as they are judged by an independent panel of world-class experts from across the sector. It is a great validation of our ongoing strategic collaboration with Genentech to be chosen as a finalist for the Best Partnership Alliance award.”

Details of the awards ceremony are as follows:

Scrip Awards 2019
Date: 4 December 2019
Venue: The Hilton on Park Lane, London

For more information, see here: https://pharmaintelligence.informa.com/events/awards/scrip-awards-2019