Second Genome initiates 4 collaborations assessing the effect of gut microbiota

Second Genome which is considered a leader in the development of novel medicines derived from the human microbiome initiated four collaborations with key academic institutions to assess the effect of gut microbiota on individual response to cancer immunotherapies.

The studies exhibit research that influence of the gut microbiome on cancer immunotherapies by evaluating participants undergoing various treatments in several cancer settings. Collectively, the studies will evaluate several hundred patients. Researchers involved hope to gain unique insights in distinct patient populations prior to and during treatment with drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. This will complement and enhance Second Genome’s current drug discovery program, which is aimed at identifying molecules from immune-active microbes in immuno-oncology.

Karim Dabbagh, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Second Genome said “Our platform has a track record of finding conclusive links that demonstrate a causal role between disease and the microbiome at a mechanistic level and identifying pathways and molecules that mediate the effects for drug targeting. We are confident that these collaborations will help gain insight into the link between the microbiome and the potential for response to checkpoint inhibitors.”

John Theurer Cancer Center and Second Genome are currently enrolling participants across two studies investigating the impact of the gut microbiome on response and progression of disease in participants with multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia treated with combinations of checkpoint inhibitors after stem cell transplantation. The Second Genome collaborations with Stanford Cancer Institute, Ruprecht-Karls University and Roswell Park Cancer Comprehensive Cancer Center will be evaluating participants with melanoma, both early and late stage, who are candidates for checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 targeted treatments.