RCS - OptiBiotix Health - Microbiome Modulators overview

OptiBiotix HealthAnnouncement

23/09/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 1189F  OptiBiotix Health PLC  23 September 2024

OptiBiotix Health plc

("OptiBiotix" or the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Microbiome Modulators overview

 

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing
compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skincare, provides
an overview of its MicroBiome Modulators product range.

 

Market need

Numerous research studies have highlighted the role of the microorganisms that
live in or on our bodies, collectively called the microbiome, in maintaining
health and preventing chronic disease.  There are now almost weekly reports
on this 'microbiome revolution' and the potential impact of the microbiome to
improve health and prevent disease. These include the role of the gut
microbiome in cancer (see Gut microbiota modulation: a novel strategy for
prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer | Oncogene (nature.com)
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41388-020-1341-1) ), healthy ageing (see The
gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing | Nature Reviews
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-022-00605-x) ) and how the gut
microbiome impacts on a patients response to drug treatment Drug-microbiota
interactions: an emerging priority for precision medicine | Signal
Transduction and Targeted Therapy (nature.com)
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01619-w) , including the
absorption of paracetamol by gut microbes reducing its effect. With increasing
recognition of the role of the microbiome in health and disease comes the
potential to develop strategies to change the microbial composition of the
microbiome as a dietary or treatment option to improve health outcomes,
prevent chronic diseases, and/or improve the efficacy or reduce the toxicity
of drug treatments.

 

The Microbiome Modulator product portfolio has been developed to meet this
need.

 

Meeting the market need

OptiBiotix has developed a number of unique, patented technologies, which
allow it to create dietary ingredients, supplements, or therapeutic products
to increase the efficacy of existing probiotics and precision engineer the
microbiome.

 

The OptiBiotix approach is based on the premise that gut microbes have adapted
to co-exist with humans by utilising compounds not useable by their human
host. OptiBiotix has developed a number of platform technologies which allows
it to examine a microbe's genome to identify its ability to utilise specific
substrates. After obtaining this information, it needs to be validated for its
functionality in human gut models. This has been performed for multiple
microbes on a number of occasions which consistently show that a combination
of the prebiotic and parent strain from which it was produced increases
growth, metabolic activity, and health benefits far greater than using the
probiotic alone or a combination of the probiotic and other prebiotics.
Further studies have shown the ability of these products to modify microbiome
composition and significantly increase specific short-chain fatty acids
("SCFA"), the molecular messengers produced by bacteria. SCFA are widely known
for their importance in gut health, immunity and are one of the main ways in
which the gut microbiome contributes to better health and prevent chronic
disease.

 

Once we validated the improvements for each microbe, we use protein synthesis
techniques for the large scale production of unique substrates specific for
the optimum growth of that microbe. This required an extensive programme of
work over two years but was completed successfully and the process patented.
This allows the Company to create substrates which boost the growth of
specific genera or species of microbes that have been connected with cancer,
improving drug treatments, the development of chronic diseases, or even the
ageing process Healthy longevity: The role of the gut microbiome
(medicalnewstoday.com)
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-might-bacteria-eating-viruses-and-gut-bacteria-contribute-to-longevity)
. This ability to identify and create products which selectively enhance the
growth and activity of specific microbes is a new concept but has the
potential to revolutionise health benefits of existing probiotics and the
possibility, with further studies, to improve drug therapies for a range of
diseases. Microbiome modulating approaches are a largely unexplored area of
opportunity for both the food and pharmaceutical industry but have the
potential to transform healthcare. If the microbiome is the future of
healthcare, having an approach to precision engineer the microbiome to enhance
those microbes that deliver health benefits is the pathway to achieving that
aim.

 

Current position

The Company has developed a number of products created using its technology
platforms which have been been tested by academic groups. The technology has
been applied to multiple microbial species and strains with the first
available product developed for Lactobacillus species as they dominate the
global probiotic market with 65% market share by revenue (Coherent Market
Insights, 2023). The Company has been working with academic and industry
partners and now have published seven papers on their findings which have been
published and/or presented at international conferences, providing an
independent assessment of the technology and the products ability to
selectively improve growth and improve a health condition. A further
publication which has been submitted as a joint publication with DSM shows the
ability of OptiBiotix's microbiome modulators to selectively enhance the
growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ("LGG"), the world's bestselling
probiotic. Presentations and publications help build awareness of OptiBiotix's
technology and products in international markets, and are key to the
engagement of large industry partners who may wish to license or acquire the
technology or products, and provide the supporting material for the marketing
and launch of products. Current studies to date have shown:-

 

1.    The ability to create unique products for a range of different
beneficial microbes.  These may be commercial probiotics or beneficial
bacteria in the gut associated with a health benefit

2.    The ability of these products to greatly enhance the growth rate and
health benefits of these beneficial microbes and the bioactives (SCFA's) they
produce

3.    The ability of these products to maintain high levels of a probiotic
in the gut for longer than if using the probiotic alone

 

This technology is applicable to a wide range of microbial species with short
term opportunities with nutraceutical company partners who wish to improve the
performance of their existing probiotics or more long-term, pharmaceutical
companies interested in improving drug therapies. This has created interest
from a spectrum of potential partners with a view to licensing the technology,
co-development of specific products for partners, or the production and sale
of an ingredient to boost the performance of products containing Lactobacilli
species.  The Company believes these options are not mutually exclusive.

 

Current commercial focus is on launching a generic Lactobacillus boost
product; codeveloping strain specific products with large companies who have
high volumes of a specific probiotic species, and more longer-term exploring
opportunities with the increasing number of pharmaceutical companies who have
interest and expertise in the microbiome and its ability to deliver health
benefits.  The Company has been in discussions with a wide range of industry
partners since 2023 and will make announcements on timelines and launch dates
once in a position to do so.

 

Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix Health plc commented: "We are pleased at the
progress we have made with our microbiome modulators to date. We have
developed unique science, scaled up processes, created a broad patent
portfolio, published and presented our studies at international conferences,
and in the last 12 months better understood the wide range of opportunities
from partner discussions to help develop our commercial proposition. We are
now focused on taking these unique products to market. We believe this is
likely to include a combination of OptiBiotix's own brand, partner brands for
specific strains, co-development and license deals across different industry
sectors (nutraceutical food ingredient, and pharma).

 

"This ability to identify and create products which selectively enhance the
growth and activity of specific microbes is a new concept but has the
potential to revolutionise the probiotic industry and in time microbiome-based
products and therapies. If we achieve these aims, these products offer the
possibility for improved products and new treatment strategies for a range of
diseases and the potential for a significant enhancement in the value of the
Company."

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 OptiBiotix Health plc                         www.optibiotix.com (http://www.optibiotix.com/)
 Neil Davidson, Chairman                       Contact via Walbrook below
 Stephen O'Hara, Chief Executive

 Peterhouse Capital Limited (Broker)           Tel: 020 7220 9797
 Duncan Vasey / Lucy Williams

 Walbrook PR Ltd     Mob: 07876 741 001 or optibiotix@walbrookpr.com
 Anna Dunphy

 

 

About OptiBiotix - www.optibiotix.com (http://www.optibiotix.com/)

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), which was formed in March 2012, brings
science to the development of compounds which modify the human microbiome -
the collective genome of the microbes in the body - in order to prevent and
manage human disease and promote wellness.

 

OptiBiotix has an extensive R&D programme working with leading academics
in the development of microbial strains, compounds, and formulations which are
used as active ingredients and supplements. More than twenty international
food and healthcare supplement companies have signed agreements with
OptiBiotix to incorporate their human microbiome modulators into a wide range
of food products and drinks.

 

OptiBiotix is also developing its own range of consumer supplements and health
products. The Company's current areas of focus include obesity, cardiovascular
health, and diabetes.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based
on the Company's current expectations, estimates, and projections about its
industry; its beliefs; and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,'
'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known
and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond
the Company's control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the
forward-looking statements. The Company cautions security holders and
prospective security holders not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of
the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this
announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are
made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any
revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events,
circumstances, or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this
announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory
authority.

 

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