Enterome collaborates with J&J Innovation to develop novel targets and therapeutics for Crohn’s disease
French firm will receive an upfront payment plus R&D funding from Janssen
Enterome Bioscience, a French developer of therapeutic solutions based on the gut microbiome, has entered into its second collaborative research of 2016.
Following an agreement signed with Takeda earlier this week, Enterome has now announced a collaboration with Janssen Biotech, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and the French National Institute for Agriculture Research (INRA).
The agreement, facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, is focused on the discovery of novel targets and bioactive molecules from the gut microbiome for the possible development of treatments for Crohn’s disease.
Under the terms of the agreement, Enterome will receive an upfront payment plus R&D funding from Janssen.
Janssen will receive an option to take an exclusive licence to further develop and commercialise promising candidates that may arise from the collaboration.
The Janssen Human Microbiome Institute will also join the firms to help accelerate the translation of microbiome science into therapeutic solutions for Crohn’s disease.
Enterome has already identified bacterial strains, genes and products with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties by combining its own advanced proprietary metagenomics tools and screening technologies.
The new agreement aims to advance the characterisation and therapeutic validation of these bacterial products, increase knowledge of the regulation of immunity and gut homeostasis, and potentially lead to the development of new therapeutic solutions for Crohn’s disease.
The collaboration is based on initial findings by INRA showing that some commensal (symbiotic) bacteria elicit anti-inflammatory effects in the human gut.
