Genome & Company “The world’s first discovery of microbiome strains with anticancer efficacy… Patent pending”

Input 2021.01.12 10:29

Selected strains that help anti-cancer among numerous intestinal microbes and published in Nature’s sister magazine
The only clinical trial in Korea… “Opportunity to lead the development of next-generation immunotherapy

Genome & Company said, “Recently, we are in the process of applying for a patent in Korea by discovering a specific microbiome (intestinal microbiome) strain that enhances the efficacy of anti-cancer immunotherapy for the first time in the world.” We have an opportunity to go out,” he said on the 12th.

Han-soo Park, co-representative of Genome & Company (Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)) researched on 235 lung cancer patients admitted to Samsung Medical Center, and found that among the various types of microbial’Bifidobacterium Bfidom’ The discovery that the strain’K-57′ markedly enhances the anti-cancer effect was announced on this day in’Nature Microbiology’, a sister magazine of Nature.

Microbiome refers to the microorganisms living in the body and their ecosystem. Since 95% of the microorganisms in the body live in the intestine, it generally means intestinal microorganisms. Certain types of microbiomes, such as’Bifidobacterium bifidum’, have been known to increase the therapeutic effect when administered together with an immune anticancer drug (a drug that stimulates the body’s innate immune system to attack cancer cells).

In 2019, Genome & Company entered the clinical trials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in cooperation with Merck and Pfizer in the United States, as a treatment that combines their immunotherapy and microbiome. Since November of last year, it is the first in the industry and the only domestic clinical trial is underway.

However, there is a problem that the anticancer efficacy varies greatly depending on the patient. The research team hypothesized that differences in strains might be the cause. ‘Bifidobacterium bifidum’ means that the anticancer efficacy varies depending on the type of strain, because the microorganism is not a single bacterium, but a group of numerous strains.

The research team explained, “As a result of analyzing through the genetic method, among the’Bifidobacterium bifidum’, patients receiving the strain’K-57′ showed a more pronounced and even treatment effect than other patients.” According to the research team, the K-57 strain makes substances called “pepticlycan” and “L-tryptophan” in the body, and these substances activate the functions of immune cells (T cells and NK cells). The activated immune cells attack and destroy the tumor.

An official of Genome & Company said, “We studied lung cancer patients, but the result is commonly applied to all solid cancers. We will accelerate the release of microbiome anticancer drugs and expand the pipeline by promoting the clinical trial of the strain we found this time.” Since this is the result of a study on Koreans, it will be investigated through further studies whether the strain acts as a deterrent to other races that may have different intestinal environments.

Genome & Company said, “We are discussing in-depth co-development with other global pharmaceutical companies besides Merck and Pfizer.” The company participates in the’JP Morgan Healthcare Conference’, a global pharmaceutical and bio conference that will be held until the 14th (local time in the US) and has business meetings with overseas pharmaceutical companies. The company has not yet disclosed whether a discussion on microbiome will take place at this event.

Genome & Company was established as a GIST teacher startup company in 2015 and listed on the KOSDAQ market last month.