Eligo Bioscience SA has entered into a research and option agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

WHO: Founded in 2014, Eligo Bioscience is the world leader in microbiome gene therapy to address microbiome-associated diseases. Eligo was founded by scientists from The Rockefeller University, where CRISPR-based antimicrobials were invented, and by scientists from MIT. Eligo was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2017 and is rapidly advancing its lead program into clinical development, with the first clinical trials on track to begin in 2021. Through its novel technology platform and robust intellectual property positions, Eligo is poised to be a catalyst for the growth anticipated across the microbiome-associated diseases industry.

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with three global businesses—vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and consumer health care—that research, develop, and manufacture innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products.

WHY: The goal of the partnership is to advance Eligobiotics for the treatment or prevention of acne vulgaris with a pioneering CRISPR-based therapeutic for strain-specific microbiome modulation.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “We are excited to work with GSK on advancing our radically new approach to address acne, combining our unique technology platform with GSK’s scientific excellence and capabilities to bring innovation from the lab bench, through clinical development, and to patients. This early-stage partnership demonstrates the translational potential of Eligo’s technology platform,” said Xavier Duportet, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Eligo Bioscience.

Emmanuel Hanon, Senior Vice-President and Head of R&D for GSK Vaccines, commented: “We are delighted to join forces with Eligo, a biotech company that is pioneering microbiome engineering by leveraging CRISPR technology to address microbiome-associated diseases. This partnership builds on GSK’s strong expertise in immunology, bacteriology and product development, and Eligo’s robust bacteriophage science, to help improve acne patients’ lives.”

DETAILS:

• Eligo Bioscience SA and GSK have entered into a research and option agreement.
• Under the terms of the agreement, Eligo will receive an upfront payment and R&D funding to advance EB005, its discovery program in acne, until preclinical proof of concept.
• If GSK exercises its option, GSK and Eligo will enter into a license and collaboration agreement to jointly continue the development of EB005 in acne.
• Eligo Bioscience would be eligible to receive up to a total of $224 million in license fees and potential milestone payments, as well as royalties on global sales.
• A $20 million Series A in 2017 brought the amount raised at that date to $24 million. The round was led by Khosla Ventures with participation by existing investor Seventure Partners.
• The start-up received a $2 million grant from the Worldwide Innovation Challenge and non-dilutive funding from the European Commission, CARB-X, and Bpifrance.