PARIS and BOSTON, April 18,
2016 /PRNewswire/ --
First novel small molecule FimH
antagonists to enter clinical development in 2016
ENTEROME Bioscience SA, a pioneer in the development of
pharmaceuticals and diagnostics based on the gut microbiome, has
signed an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Vertex
Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VRTX) to research, develop and
commercialize novel small molecule FimH antagonists for use in the
treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Enterome plans to take the lead compound in this program, known
as EB 8018, into first human clinical trials during 2016 as
well as a companion diagnostic to identify patients with
inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) who will benefit from their
use.
Through application of its metagenomics platform, Enterome has
identified a key bacterial species - adherent-invasive Escherichia
coli (AIEC) - which is responsible for triggering inflammation in
IBD. AIEC adheres to gut epithelial cells by virtue of FimH
adhesion proteins on its cell surface, which bind to the CEACAM6
receptor on gut epithelial cells and allow the bacterial cells to
invade the gut wall and proliferate. Research has shown that
blocking FimH prevents the adherence and proliferation of AIEC,
thereby reducing inflammation and providing new opportunities for
the prevention and treatment of IBD.
"The rapid growth of evidence supporting the involvement of the
microbiome in serious diseases is providing myriad new
opportunities and targets for therapeutic intervention with small
molecule drugs," commented Pierre Belichard, CEO of Enterome. "The
unique insights we have gained on the roles of specific
constituents of the gut microbiome brought through our metagenomics
platform strongly supports the central role of AIEC in inflammatory
bowel diseases. Through this in-licensing agreement we are
delighted to gain access to these novel FimH antagonists including
EB8018, which we intend to advance into clinical trials during
2016, and which we believe could be transformative for the
management and treatment of IBD."
About Enterome
Enterome is pioneering the development of novel pharmaceuticals
and diagnostics to support personalized therapies in
microbiome-related diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease
(IBD), cancer and metabolic diseases.
Enterome is also leading the development of new industry
standards in gut microbiome quantitative and functional analysis.
This technology leadership allows Enterome to open up the new field
of therapeutic target discovery in the microbiome in order to
address significant unmet medical needs.
Enterome has established partnerships with leading
pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutes,
including Johnson & Johnson Innovation/Janssen Biotech, Takeda
and Abbvie in inflammatory bowel diseases; and the Mayo Clinic and
Geisinger hospitals in metabolic disorders.
The Company was established in 2012 in Paris, France to develop the discoveries made
by the INRA metagenomic platform. The Company has raised a total of
€17.5 million from leading venture capital investors (Seventure
Partners, Lundbeckfond Ventures & Omnes Capital) and two
strategic investors (Shire & INRA transfer).
Additional information about Enterome is available through
its website : http://www.enterome.com.
Contacts
Pierre Belichard, CEO
+33-1-75-77-27-87
David Dible / Mark Swallow / Marine
Perrier, Citigate Dewe Rogerson
+44-207-638-9571
enterome@citigatedr.co.uk