MD Anderson and SNIPR BIOME join forces to advance new CRISPR-based microbiome therapeutics

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and SNIPR BIOME today announced a strategic collaboration to advance new CRISPR-based microbiome therapeutics to reduce immune-related adverse events (irAE) in patients being treated with combined immune checkpoint inhibitors. The agreement pairs SNIPR BIOME's innovative CRISPR-based therapeutic entities with the expertise and capabilities of MD Anderson's Program for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR).

Under the agreement, MD Anderson and SNIPR BIOME will collaborate to validate proprietary microbiome profiles and to develop CRISPR-armed therapeutic entities to modulate the gut microbiota with the goal of reducing toxicity while preserving response to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer. By reducing irAE, the research aims to improve the safety profile of this effective form of therapy, with the potential to expand its use and to increase clinical benefit. The agreement includes pre-clinical research and the potential for a clinical study.

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other forms of immunotherapy has dramatically improved outcomes for patients with cancer, but these therapies can cause significant side effects. Microbes within the gut of patients have been shown to influence responses to immunotherapy, and we now have evidence that they can impact toxicity as well. We are excited about applying SNIPR BIOME's unique technologies to manipulate gut microbes and reduce toxicity while preserving response to cancer immunotherapy, with the ultimate goal of improving care for all patients."

Jennifer Wargo, M.D., Professor of Genomic Medicine and Surgical Oncology and Director of PRIME-TR at MD Anderson

PRIME-TR is a novel institutional platform that aims to transform the landscape of cancer treatment, diagnosis and prevention through studying and targeting the microbiome at multiple different niches. Supported by MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program^®, PRIME-TR works to advance microbiome-based applications as a complement to other foundational discoveries and cancer treatments, including immune-based strategies and other therapeutic approaches.

"This agreement is an example of how PRIME-TR enables the translation of research findings with the goal of improving outcomes to cancer therapy through microbiome modulation," said Nadim Ajami, Ph.D., executive director for scientific research for PRIME-TR at MD Anderson. "We prioritize collaborations with investigators, both at MD Anderson and worldwide, to conduct microbiome profiling studies, research and development efforts, as well as clinical and translational interventional trials."

Results of a study led by Wargo together with leading microbiome experts, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrated that distinct bacterial species in the gut microbiome are significantly associated with severe irAE in patients with advanced melanoma treated with combined immune checkpoint blockade targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1. Findings from this study provide the rationale to target these via CRISPR-based approaches, with the goal of improving therapeutic benefit and limiting treatment-related toxicity to cancer immunotherapy.

"MD Anderson researchers and clinicians have expertise in immunotherapies of cancers and are pioneers in understanding the complex interplay between the gut microbiome homeostasis and the immune system," said Christian Grøndahl, Dr. Med., Ph.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of SNIPR BIOME. "We look forward to working closely with the PRIME-TR team to apply our CRISPR technology to this promising field of research and to advance development of our lead CRISPRbiotic^® therapy as a potential adjunct treatment in patients with cancer using immune checkpoint inhibitors."