4D Pharma’ s gut feeling about biotherapeutics

Firm on track to help with illnesses including Crohn’ s disease

Life sciences firm 4D Pharma said yesterday it was “well-positioned” to make key advances where others had failed in microbiome research.

The company, which is headquartered in Leeds but carries out much of its research at Aberdeen University’s Foresterhill campus, added it was on track to deliver “meaningful” clinical

“The year has seen significant progress towards our goal”

data to support the use of live biotherapeutics for multiple illnesses.

Live biothereputics are a relatively new group of medicines that use the bacteria which colonise the human body – known as the microbiome – to tackle disease.

As well as helping digestion and the production of vitamins, these bacteria have an important role in regulating the immune and central nervous systems.

Alternative Investment Market-listed 4D Pharma, which grew out of Aberdeen University Rowett Institute spinout GT Biologics, says its medical po- tential goes way beyond treatments for gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

It has already identified bacteria that are potentially safe and effective therapies for diseases such as cancer, asthma and autism, as well as auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

In an update with annual results, the firm said it achieved a string of product milestones during 2017, while also developing its intellectual property portfolio – now “the largest in the microbiome sector”, with 207 patents awarded to date and 220 applications in the pipeline.

The company also secured regulatory certification for the production of live biotherapeutics at its development and manufacturing facility in Leon, Spain.

Announcing pre-tax losses of about £24million for the early-stage research and development firm last year, chairman David Norwood said: “The year has seen significant progress towards our goal of produc- ing live biotherapeutics as safe and effective therapies.

“With its upcoming programme of trials, 4D is well-placed to deliver meaningful clinical data to support the use of live biotherapeutics across multiple indications.”

Chief executive Duncan Peyton said there were high expectations for live biotherapeutics, adding: “To date, the field has fallen short of this expectation.

“Building upon our work and investment in research, clinical progression and manufacturing capability, we believe 4D is wellpositioned to change this.

“We have laid the groundwork to take our products into patients across a host of disease areas.”

WEAPON: Research shows gut bacteria called microbiome, here shown through a magnifying glass, could be used against various illnesses