Carbiotix to partner with Italian university on neuroinflammation project

The collaboration, due to begin in H1 2020, will focus on the impact of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) or metabolites produced from Carbiotix Microbiome Modulator Therapeutics (MMT) on modulating neutrophil functionalities, and the contribution of these cells to neuroinflammation.

The in-vivo research will be led by Dr. Elena Zenaro, at the University of Verona, and will seek to find new MMT applications and further validate Carbiotix MMT platform.

“This collaboration agreement represents Carbiotix first academic partnership to explore the potential of the company´s MMT platform across different indication areas,”​ said Kristofer Cook, CEO for Carbiotix.

Cook said his company was approached by Zenaro, who’s previous research has validated a link between elevated levels of specific metabolites and a reduced risk of developing neuroinflammation.

“Dr. Zenaro saw our MMT platform as an interesting technology given our focus on elevating key metabolites in individuals,”​ he added. “The collaboration agreement is our first academic collaboration and our ambition is to continue to build similar partnerships across other indication areas as a means to cost-effectively investigate new MMT applications, validate the breadth of our MMT platform, and access expert knowledge in each respective indication area.”​

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Zenaro added that her research demonstrated a link between gut health, the production of key metabolites and neuroinflammation has been demonstrated – and that her previous work suggests MMTs “may have an unexploited potential in addressing a range of neuro-degenerative diseases.”​

“A further validation of this approach through a collaborative study with Carbiotix allows us to better understand the mechanisms of action to develop new treatments, and at the same time validate the overall potential of the MMT platform,”​ she said.