• CHAIN Biotechnology Ltd and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines for indications caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
  • The 15-month program focuses on combining the expertise and knowledge of both parties to design and test the anti-tumour efficacy of CHAIN’s novel, orally administered HPV vaccine candidates. The efficacy of the candidates will be tested in the DKFZ’s Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-humanized, HPV oncogene-dependent orthotopic murine tumour models.

Nottingham- UK – 11th April 2024- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIN Biotechnology Ltd (‘CHAIN’ or ‘the Company’) announces it has started a collaboration with the DKFZ, who have developed an orthotopic HPV tumour model using mice expressing human MHC immune proteins.

The program forms part of CHAIN’s previously reported expansion into immune oncology therapeutics, utilising its novel Clostridium Assisted Drug Delivery (CADD) live spore system for thermostable oral delivery of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

There is a significant unmet medical need to treat cancers resulting from HPV infections. Cervical cancers are the 4th most common cancer in women, accounting for 662,3001 new cases every year, over 95% of which are associated with HPV infection. Other types of cancer, such as anal cancer or oropharyngeal cancers, are also caused by HPV infections. Treatment of cervical cancer typically consists of surgery and chemoradiotherapy. Currently, the only vaccines available for HPV are prophylactic, and therefore are not effective in the treatment of these cancers. Subsequently, CHAIN and the DKFZ will work together to harness their extensive research and expert knowledge of HPV-related malignancies to design and test new treatments for HPV-related cancers. CHAIN will engineer a range of new HPV vaccine candidates in their proprietary CADD system for the DKFZ to test in their in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo mouse models of HPV malignancies.

CHAIN’s CADD platform uses proprietary, modified strains of Clostridium, a key component of the healthy human microbiome. The strains are administered orally and are engineered to express therapeutic payloads in the colon together with naturally occurring beneficial metabolites. Expression of the antigens helps to elicit a mucosal and systemic immune response, which form an important part of how the body can combat HPV-related malignancies, which typically arise at mucosal sites. The collaborative project with the DKFZ will test CADD-HPV cancer vaccines in orthotopic tumour models, i.e. tumours located in the same anatomical locations as HPV-mediated cancers arise in humans, using mice with human MHC genes.

Dr Steve Emery, Chief Scientific Officer at CHAIN, said:

“CHAIN is delighted to be working with the DKFZ. By combining our respective technical knowledge and expertise, we will be able to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic vaccines, for treating HPV-related cancers. HPV-related cancers are one of the world’s most prevalent cancers with no currently approved therapies that are designed to specifically target these malignancies. This collaboration will enable CHAIN to rapidly test therapeutic candidates using our proprietary oral antigen delivery system (CADD) and, together with the DKFZ, further explore the mechanism of action and efficacy in transgenic animal models. The DKFZ has developed animal tumour models for HPV cancers, which are world leading with respect to their relationship to the human immune system and thus provide excellent potential for translation to a clinical scenario.”

Dr Angelika Riemer, head of the Division of Immunotherapy and Immunoprevention at the DKFZ, said:

“It is the overarching goal of my research group to develop an efficient therapeutic HPV vaccine. We have defined and validated target epitopes that are bona fide present on human cancer cells, and invested quite some effort in establishing our orthotopic, HPV-driven murine tumour models. The mucosal location and the fact that these MHC-humanized mice present and recognize “human” epitopes promises much more translationally relevant results than the use of previous murine models.

I am very much looking forward to be able to co-develop and test constructs based on CHAIN’s CADD delivery system. Through the oral delivery, mucosal immunity is expected to be triggered, which is of special importance for eradicating mucosally located tumours. Another aspect which is particularly appealing to me is the fact that the spores are heat-stable. The major burden of HPV-mediated disease is carried by LMICs. In these countries, both maintaining of a cold chain and repetitive invasive delivery, such as through injections, can be challenging. The CADD system circumvents both of these issues.”

1: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/23-cervix-uteri-fact-sheet.pdf

-ENDS-

About the DKFZ

The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is the largest biomedical research institute in Germany, with over 100 divisions investigating the mechanisms and risk factors behind cancer, and researching innovative strategies to prevent and treat it. Researchers at the DKFZ have an accomplished history of scientific merit, being awarded both the Nobel Prize in Medicine and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry over the last two decades.

For more information, please visit: https://www.dkfz.de/en/index.html

About CHAIN Biotechnology

CHAIN Biotechnology is an immune-oncology therapeutics company based at MediCity Nottingham. CHAIN develops oral vaccine immuno-therapies targeting the lower gastrointestinal tract with several therapeutic candidates in pre-clinical development.

CHAIN’s Clostridium Assisted Drug Delivery (CADD) technology is based on a single, but highly effective, Clostridium bacterial strain that is engineered to deliver a specific therapeutic modality, whilst also secreting metabolites that play key roles in gut and immune system homeostasis. The engineered strains produce the therapeutics in situ during growth in the lower gastrointestinal tract, impacting on the systemic and mucosal immune system.

The CADD platform supports oral drug delivery that is targeted and controllable. In addition, the live biotherapeutics can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively and are highly stable, requiring no cold chain. The technology overcomes many of the challenges associated with drug delivery and vaccination.

For more information, please visit: https://www.chainbiotech.com

Dr Zahid Bashir joins CHAIN Biotechnology’s Board as the new Non-Executive Director (NED) bringing extensive oncology expertise to CHAIN’s pipeline.

CHAIN recently reports its expansion into the immune-oncology field, using its proprietary technology to develop immuno-therapeutic candidates with the potential to enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer agents such as Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs). This programme runs alongside existing collaborations with the University of Oxford to develop and improve superior Human Rotavirus (HRV) oral vaccines as part of the Anti-Infectives programme.

Dr Bashir brings to the Board a wealth of experience spanning positions in Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb and Kite. He oversaw the successful regulatory approval of a number of innovative drugs including cell and gene therapy products, with an academic background including internal medicine and oncology training in the National Health Services and a Masters in Clinical Oncology from the University of Birmingham. Dr Bashir’s deep-rooted expertise in oncology will be invaluable at this progressive time in CHAIN’s development.

Dr Bashir said:

“I am thrilled to join CHAIN as a Non-Executive Director to steer a pioneering journey in harnessing Clostridium’s potential to revolutionize oral drug delivery and immune system modulation. My role will focus on strategic guidance and mentoring our scientific team, driving innovation in this cutting-edge field.”

Dr Bashir replaces the previous NED of nine years, Robert Rickman, who played a pivotal role in developing CHAIN’s fermentation process development. Mr Rickman was CHAIN’s first Chairperson before stepping down as CHAIN extended their focus towards therapeutics and remained an instrumental member of the Board.

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

About CHAIN Biotech

CHAIN Biotechnology is a microbiome therapeutics company based at MediCity Nottingham. CHAIN develops oral vaccines and immuno-therapies targeting the lower gastrointestinal tract with several therapeutic candidates in pre-clinical development.

CHAIN’s Clostridium Assisted Drug Development platform (CADD) technology is based on a single, but highly effective, Clostridium bacterial strain that is engineered to deliver a specific therapeutic modality, whilst also secreting metabolites that play key roles in gut and immune system homeostasis. The engineered strains produce the therapeutics in situ during growth in the lower gastrointestinal tract, impacting on the systemic and mucosal immune system.

The CADD platform supports oral drug delivery that is targeted and controllable. In addition, our live biotherapeutics can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively and are highly stable (no cold chain logistics). The technology overcomes many of the challenges associated with drug delivery and vaccination.

  • CHAIN have closed a financing round led by new investors, BGF and SynBioVen, alongside existing investor, UKI2S and strategic partner, Miyarisan Pharmaceutical.
  • Investment will enable CHAIN to develop its CADD therapeutic platform and demonstrate its unique potential for use as an immune therapy in oncology.
  • CHAIN will initially focus on immune therapies to treat Cervical, Oral and Pharyngeal cancers.

Nottingham, United Kingdom – 26 July 2023 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIN Biotechnology Limited (‘CHAIN’, or ‘the Company’), has developed a unique proprietary, therapeutic approach based on engineering a probiotic strain of Clostridium to deliver oral vaccines and therapeutics. CHAIN’s Clostridium Assisted Drug Development platform (CADD) technology is a live therapeutic that employs a triple mode of action, incorporating mucosal and systemic immune responses alongside microbiome enhancement, and is delivered via highly stable, robust endospores that allow targeted, controllable therapeutic action.

CHAIN’s platform is already in development to deliver prophylactic vaccines and this funding round will enable CHAIN to focus on using its unique platform as a treatment for major solid tumour cancers. 

The round was led by new investors, Business Growth Fund (BGF), one of the largest and most experienced investors in the UK and Ireland, and venture capital investment group SynBioVen, who specialize in backing synthetic biology-based products, together with strategic investor and partner Miyarisan Pharmaceuticals and existing investor, UKI2S.

Matthew Duchars, CEO of CHAIN, said: “This funding is instrumental in enabling CHAIN to advance its platform in the field of immune-oncology. CHAIN’s CADD system has huge potential to provide an effective and easy to administer therapy in this field. We are very excited to welcome our new investors BGF and SynBioVen who, together with Miyarisan and UKI2S, have enabled us to move forward with this exciting stage in CADD’s development.”

Tim Rea, head of early-stage investments at BGF, said: “CHAIN is a leading light in the field of microbiome medicine, offering a highly differentiated and patent-protected platform which enables safe and effective oral drug delivery for a range of conditions. We have been consistently impressed by the progress CHAIN has made to date and believe it is now in an ideal position to capitalise on the vast potential of its ground-breaking technology.”

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

CHAIN Biotechnology

Matthew Duchars, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: +44 (0) 7494 260812

Email: matthew.duchars@chainbiotech.com

About CHAIN Biotechnology

CHAIN Biotechnology specializes in the delivery of proteins and peptides to the lower gut for immunotherapeutic and prophylactic purposes. Based at MediCity Nottingham, CHAIN develops oral vaccines and immuno-therapies targeting the lower gastrointestinal tract using a Clostridium based delivery system. Their Clostridium Assisted Drug Development platform (CADD) technology is based on a highly effective Clostridium bacterial strain that is used as a human probiotic. The strain is engineered to deliver carefully selected proteins or peptides targeting specific indications, whilst simultaneously secreting metabolites that play key roles in gut and immune system homeostasis. The engineered strains target the systemic and mucosal immune system, by producing the selected proteins and peptides in situ, while growing in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

The CADD platform supports oral drug delivery that is both targeted and controllable. In addition, our live biotherapeutics can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively and are highly stable with no cold chain logistics. The technology overcomes many of the challenges associated with drug delivery and vaccination.

For more information, please visit: https://www.chainbiotech.com

About BGF

BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested over £3bn in more than 500 companies, making it one of the most active growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland. Investing from a balance sheet of c. £2.5bn, BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 15 offices. BGF models have now been set up in Canada and Australia, with other countries evaluating the opportunity to replicate this.

For more information, please visit: www.bgf.co.uk

About SynBioVen

SynBioVen was formed in early 2022 to invest in and actively support early-stage, UK companies leveraging synthetic biology to build new platform and products. The team includes Professors Dick Kitney and Paul Freemont (the UK’s forefathers of synthetic biology), Lord David Willetts (Chair of the UK Space Agency, former Minister for Universities and Science and creator of the Synthetic Biology Leadership) and Sir David Harding (Founder and CEO of research-based, quantitative investment firm, the Winton Group). SynBioVen works closely with SynbiCITE, UK’s leading synthetic biology infrastructure hub located at Imperial White City.

For more information, please visit: https://www.synbioven.com

About UKI2S

UKI2S is a national seed investment fund that nurtures innovative businesses to leverage private investment and grow jobs, recycling profits from the realisation of our investments into the next generation of impactful UK companies. We invest in innovations emerging from the UK’s publicly funded science and knowledge base. We specialise in engineering, biology, defence & security, fusion energy, to facilitate sustainable growth, enhance the health and security of society, improve productivity, and deliver economic gains emerging from UK’s public funding portfolio. The fund is backed by UK Research and Innovation, Ministry of Defence, the Department of Science Innovation and Technology, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and other public bodies. It is independently managed by Future Planet Capital (Ventures) Ltd, the impact-led, global venture capital firm.

About Miyarisan Pharmaceutical

Miyarisan is a pharmaceutical company based in Japan, with a corporate office in Tokyo and manufacturing and development plants in Nagano and Saitama.

Miyarisan manufacture and market their probiotic C. butyricum strain MIYARI 588 in Japan, where it is commercially available to treat both non-antimicrobial induced diarrhoea and antimicrobial associated diarrhoea in humans. The strain was discovered by Dr. Miyairi in 1933 at the department of Hygiene at Chiba Medical College, and since its first commercial production in 1940, it has developed into an efficacious treatment for colitis and gastroenteritis.

Miyarisan also manufacture over-the-counter probiotics, which are available in Japan and Korea, and were approved by the European Commission as a ‘novel food’ in 2014 for EU markets. Miyarisan’s MIYARI 588-based animal feed additive, MIYA-GOLD, has been shown to increase growth performance without modifying the commensal microbiome when used as a probiotic and is available globally.

For more information, please visit www.miyarisan.com/english_index.htm

The UK biotech has announced an investment agreement with Japan-based pharmaceutical company Miyarisan to help scale and manufacture their oral therapeutics pipeline.

Nottingham, UK- 3rd January 2023- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miyarisan currently manufacture the probiotic bacterial strain MIYARI 588 for Asian and European markets, and bring extensive Clostridium bacterial spore manufacturing and formulation expertise, along with fermentation process development to the table. Combined with CHAIN’s engineering biology expertise, the two companies plan to repurpose a proven Clostridium probiotic species into a therapeutic, co-developing and manufacturing novel oral treatments targeting infection and cancer.

CHAIN’s Clostridium Assisted Drug Delivery (CADD) platform has broad therapeutic applications which, with strategic investment and support from Miyarisan, can be used to develop drug candidates addressing a range of immune-oncological and infective targets.

CHAIN has also recently partnered with the University of Oxford, focusing on the development of a superior oral vaccine for Human Rotavirus (HRV). HRV is the leading cause of Childhood Diarrhoeal Diseases (CDDs) in low-income countries, affecting over 1.7 billion children every year and resulting in over 500,000 deaths. CHAIN’s oral vaccine being developed through the project aims to subvert the vaccine efficacy gap and combat vaccine inequality, utilising the investment and collaboration from Miyarisan to provide a route to scale-up and manufacture.

CHAIN CEO Dr. Matthew Duchars said:

“CHAIN is excited to have Miyarisan as a strategic investor. Miyarisan have a wealth of experience in commercial scale manufacturing which is highly synergistic with CHAIN’s experience in the genetic engineering of probiotic strains. By applying CHAIN’s unique CADD system to new disease targets and combining that with Miyarisan’s strength in manufacturing, the two companies can accelerate the development of medicines to help prevent and treat target diseases.”

Masayuki UCHIDA, President of Miyarisan Pharmaceutical added:

“Miyarisan Pharmaceutical’s is pleased to announce an investment in CHAIN Biotechnology. The two companies share a mutual interest in developing products that enhance the microbiome to improve health. CHAIN has combined innovative genetic engineering with microbiome technology using their “CADD” system, and has the potential to broaden microbiome technologies for use against specific disease targets. The combination of CHAIN’s high-quality genetic engineering science, coupled with Miyarisan’s experience in manufacture of microbiome enhancing live biotherapeutic products will create an opportunity to benefit patients, through the development of new and improved medicines.”







About Miyarisan Pharmaceutical

Miyarisan is a pharmaceutical company based in Japan, with a corporate office in Tokyo and manufacturing and development plants in Nagano and Saitama.

Miyarisan manufacture and market their probiotic C.butyricum strain MIYARI 588 in Japan, where it is commercially available to treat both non-antimicrobial induced diarrhoea and antimicrobial associated diarrhoea in humans. The strain was discovered in by Dr. Miyairi in 1933 at the department of Hygiene at Chiba Medical College, and since its first commercial production in 1940, it has developed into an efficacious treatment for colitis and gastroenteritis.

Miyarisan also manufacture over-the-counter probiotics, which are available in Japan and Korea, and were approved by the European Commission as a ‘novel food’ in 2014 for EU markets. Miyarisan’s MIYARI 588-based animal feed additive, MIYA-GOLD, has been shown to increase growth performance without modifying the commensal microbiome when used as a probiotic and is available globally.

For more information, please visit www.miyarisan.com/english_index.htm

About CHAIN Biotech

CHAIN Biotechnology is a microbiome therapeutics company based at MediCity Nottingham with a head office in Marlow. CHAIN develops oral vaccines and immuno-therapies targeting the lower gastrointestinal tract with several therapeutic candidates in pre-clinical development.

CHAIN’s Clostridium Assisted Drug Development platform (CADD) technology is based on a single, but highly effective, Clostridium bacterial strain that is engineered to deliver a specific therapeutic modality, whilst also secreting metabolites that play key roles in gut and immune system homeostasis. The engineered strains produce the therapeutics in situ during growth in the lower gastrointestinal tract, impacting on the systemic and mucosal immune system.

The CADD platform supports oral drug delivery that is targeted and controllable. In addition, our live biotherapeutics can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively and are highly stable (no cold chain logistics). The technology overcomes many of the challenges associated with drug delivery and vaccination.

For more information, please visit: https://www.chainbiotech.com

CHAIN announces the appointment of Dr Matthew Duchars as Chief Executive from the 1st of August 2022

Nottingham, UK- 22nd of July 2022- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIN Biotechnology has strengthened its senior management team through the appointment of Dr Matthew Duchars.

Matthew is an experienced leader in vaccine development and manufacture with senior management roles at the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, Oxford (CEO), the Sabin Vaccine institute, Washington DC, USA (Senior Vice President, R&D) and with Emergent Biosolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, USA (Vice President, Product Development).  

CHAIN Biotech has developed an innovative CADDTM platform which is based on living gut bacteria that form part of the microbiome. The bacteria produce functional molecules in the lower gastrointestinal tract where they have a positive impact on the gut microbiome and mucosal health. Engineering biology is used to add additional therapeutic functionality through the expression of specific antigenic peptides, which makes the CADDTM platform ideally suited for oral vaccines.

Matthew will replace CHAIN’s founder Dr Edward Green as Chief Executive with a focus on further developing the CADDTM platform for oral vaccination. Edward will remain on the Board, and act as Chief Scientific Advisor.

Dr Matthew Duchars said:

“I am excited to join the CHAIN team. I am greatly impressed by their expertise and highly innovative CADDTM platform technology with the potential to develop effective oral vaccines. The company has done a great job securing several strategic partnerships that bring both credibility and help de-risk drug development and manufacture.”  

Dr Nel Moore, Chair of CHAIN Biotech, said:  

“We are delighted to welcome Matthew to CHAIN’s leadership team. Matthew brings a wealth of experience in vaccine development and manufacture that complements our strain engineering and microbiology skills. I look forward to working closely with Matthew to develop our technology for oral vaccine applications, bringing benefit to patients and building shareholder value.”

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Edward Green, CHAIN Biotech

T: +44 (0)775 3610798 | E: edward@chainbiotech.com

CHAIN announces a new collaboration with clinical researchers at the University of Oxford to develop superior oral vaccines for infectious diseases

Marlow, UK- 22nd of June 2022- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIN Biotechnology and the University of Oxford plan to collaborate on a two-year project to develop a new type of vaccine to immunise against human rotavirus (HRV) infection. Ultimately, the aim is to prevent Childhood Diarrhoeal Disease in malnourished children and transform the lives of millions of families across the world.

Childhood Diarrhoeal Disease (CDD) is a global health problem affecting over 1.7 billion children every year and resulting in over 500,000 deaths, mainly in low-income countries. The most common cause of CDD is infection with human rotavirus (HRV). Oral vaccines that protect against HRV infection are available but relatively expensive, and difficult to transport and administer in remote areas as they need to be kept cold. Also, they are largely ineffective in undernourished children.

We aim to develop a superior oral vaccine for HRV that is simple, inexpensive, highly effective and overcomes oral vaccine challenges associated with antigen preservation, antigen delivery and immune stimulation. Our goal is to subvert the vaccine efficacy gap in low-income countries and combat vaccine inequality.

CHAIN Biotech has developed an innovative CADDTM platform for oral drug delivery, based on living gutbacteria with a long, safe history of use in humans and engineered to deliver specific therapeutic cargo to the lower gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria are delivered orally, in spore form, and travel intact through the stomach and small intestine until they reach the colon where they germinate. The bacterial cells then grow and produce candidate molecules impacting on the gut mucosa. The CADDTM platform can be used for oral vaccination through the expression of specific antigenic peptides.

In this project, CHAIN will engineer Clostridium to secrete antigenic peptides designed to provoke an immune response against HRV. The University will undertake pre-clinical evaluation. This work will be led by Dr Kelsey Jones, a Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, and an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Dr Jones investigates the association between malnutrition, immunology, and poverty with pioneering research into the effect of undernutrition on the innate immune system in the gut.

The project is supported by a grant from Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst programme. The Assessors felt ‘the project has good potential with a favourable risk-reward profile, addresses high unmet clinical need and that the technical solution was highly innovative. Overall, CHAIN’s oral vaccine platform was deemed very attractive for public finding adding to the UK’s leadership in the vaccine field.’

Dr Edward Green, Chief Executive of CHAIN Biotech, said:  

‘We are really excited about our new project with the Kennedy Institute and the potential to build on this collaboration to validate our oral vaccine candidates. The University has world class expertise and facilities that should accelerate the development of our novel microbiome therapeutics for a broad range of clinical indications including oncology.’

Professor Fiona Powrie FRS, Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences and Director of the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, added:

‘We are delighted to partner with CHAIN Biotech in developing this innovative mucosal vaccine platform. The ability to use the CADD system to target delivery of antigens and other molecules to specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract has significant translational potential.’

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Edward Green, CHAIN Biotech

T: +44 (0)775 3610798 | E: edward@chainbiotech.com

Notes to Editor

About the Kennedy Institute

The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford is a world-leading medical research centre.  Discovery research drives development of transformative therapies for chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease. Directed by Professor Fiona Powrie FRS, the Kennedy Institute has over 25 research groups working in the areas of immunity and microbiome, inflammation biology and tissue re-modelling and repair. Investigators at the Institute take a multidisciplinary approach incorporating molecular and cellular biology with analysis of disease models and interrogation of patient tissue samples.

For more information, please visit: Homepage — The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (ox.ac.uk)

Following successful patent applications in the EU and US, CHAIN have extended their patent territories and claimed delivery of β-hydroxy butyrate (β-HB) to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in Japan. The patent family (publication number: WO2018055388) ‘Compositions and uses thereof for treating inflammatory diseases and probiotic compositions’ covers genetically engineered bacterial strains to express β-HB in the lower GI tract.

β-HB has gained recent attention as a powerful therapeutic targeting a variety of GI diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. However, traditional delivery methods present overloading issues surrounding carrier substances such as salts or esters; a factor which can be bypassed by direct delivery of β-HB to the lower GI tract. CHAIN’s novel CADD™ platform bacterial strain is engineered to secrete β-HB on arrival in the lower GI tract where it can elicit its therapeutic effects, removing the need for additional compounds.

A recent Nature publication has highlighted a possible role of β-HB in the suppression of colorectal cancer by modulating gene expression and inhibiting cell proliferation. The research presents promising future roles of β-HB as an oncological therapeutic.

CHAIN hopes to further extend the patent in the future, to maximise the impact of therapeutic β-HB in treating GI disease.