Cloudpharm and Cosmos in new gut microbiome-focused pact to address obesity
Announced last month, the partnership aims to increase satiety using a blend of prebiotic like natural products with computational tools such as 3D spatial fillers.
According to both firms, the approach will eventually produce “fast acting products that are effective in the long term by targeting the human gastrointestinal microbiome.”
The primary design of these new products will be based on the human gut microbiota function and bioactivity, they add.
“Collaborating with Cloudpharm is an important milestone in developing new IP products targeting major health disorders such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and other prevalent diseases globally,” comments Greg Siokas, Chief Executive Officer of Cosmos Holdings, comments.
“Cloudpharm is an ideal strategic partner, as their expertise in the field of drug discovery, the wide network of collaborators and the efficient cloud and IT resources, is expected to help us advance high quality pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.”
Commenting on a weight management trial, planned for 2023, to assess the resultant products’ efficacy, Siokas adds, “We look forward to launching our joint project with Cloupharm to evaluate the effect of the microbiome has on obesity and reporting results of our upcoming trial as they become available."
Cloud based tools
Founded in 2016, Athens-based Cloudpharm’s core activities focus on the discovery of bioactive compounds with emphasis on natural products.
Utilising cloud based proprietary chemoinformatic tools Cloudpharm offers services in the fields of drug discovery, drug repurposing and nutraceuticals.
During the last five years, Cloudpharm has received funding through Greek national and EC competitive research programs.
In 2022 started a new Horizon EC project as part of the consortium ENVIROMED for the development of a next generation toolbox for greener pharmaceuticals design & manufacturing towards reduced environmental impact.
Commenting on the new partnership, Dr Panagiotis Zoumpoulakis, co-founder of Cloudpharm, says, "We are excited to partner with Cosmos to develop new products targeting the gut microbiome, and look forward to launching our joint research project focusing on microbiome-based management of obesity.
“Our mission is closely aligned with Cosmos, as they are devoted to developing new and innovative products using high-quality natural ingredients.
“Our ongoing collaborations with leading universities and research institutes have contributed to a growing library of synthetic and natural compounds from around the globe that could potentially be used as lead molecules towards new active pharmaceutical ingredients."
Weight management market
Grand View Research values the global weight management market was valued at €130.1bn ($132.7bn) in 2021.
The market analysts project the sector to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% over the next nine years.
The increase in obesity is driving market growth in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical remedies, due to the rising prevalence of related chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and orthopaedic diseases, they say.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation that was implemented during lockdowns has contributed to a further increase in obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
