SNIPR Biome's data on first clinical drug candidate to prevent infections in hematological cancer patients published in Nature Biotechnology
- SNIPR001 is a novel CRISPR-Cas therapeutic designed to selectively target antibiotic resistant E. coli, which can cause fatal infections in vulnerable hematological cancer patients
- SNIPR001 represents the first CRISPR- therapeutic developed to specifically remove E. coli in the human gut
- In vitro studies showed SNIPR001 displaying high specificity towards E. coli and activity in multi-drug resistant strains
Copenhagen, May 4 2023: SNIPR Biome ApS (“SNIPR”), the company pioneering CRISPR-based microbial gene therapy, announces today that Nature Biotechnology has published research findings from its preclinical work on SNIPR001, the first CRISPR-armed phage therapeutic developed to specifically target and remove E. coli, including antibiotic-resistant strains, in the human gastrointestinal tract.
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens represents a major global challenge. In numerous disease areas, current medical practice relies on increasingly aggressive therapies, which can sometimes result in patients experiencing life-threatening infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This issue is often under-recognized in contemporary healthcare ecosystems and the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance has the potential to lead to a significant health care challenge in the future.
SNIPR001's mechanism of action, as a CRISPR-armed phage therapeutic that specifically targets and eradicates E. coli in the gut, is designed to prevent infections from spreading into the bloodstream and represents a promising advancement against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This publication represents a significant validation of the ground-breaking technology research done at the laboratories and collaborators of SNIPR Biome and also opens up the possibility of targeting other pathogens.
Dr Christian Grøndahl CEO and co-founder of SNIPR Biome, commented: “This therapy has the potential to revolutionize the way we prevent and treat infections, and we believe it could potentially serve as a model for developing similar therapies that target other life-threatening pathogens. By integrating different aspects of drug development, from bioinformatics to regulatory requirements, we have been able to leverage our CRISPR-Cas technology to generate a whole new class of drugs.”
Dr Eric van der Helm VP of Scientific Affairs of SNIPR Biome, commented: “This article represents a true team effort over the last few years of many of our employees and collaborators to integrate all aspects of drug development ranging from bioinformatics, synthetic biology, in vitro assays, in vivo models to regulatory requirements and CMC. With more than a million deaths annually attributed to antimicrobial resistance, we are committed to developing precision medicines that will make a significant impact in the fight against this global health threat.”
SNIPR001 has been granted a Fast-Track designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), was supported by CARB-X, and SNIPR is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial in the US to evaluate its safety and efficacy in reducing E. coli in the gut without disturbing the overall gut microbiome (NCT05277350).
Article citation: Gencay, Y.E., Jasinskytė, D., Robert, C. et al. Engineered phage with antibacterial CRISPR–Cas selectively reduce E. coli burden in mice. Nat Biotechnol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-023-01759-y
SNIPR Biome
Dr Christian Grøndahl, Co-founder and CEO
E-mail: cg@sniprbiome.com
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www.sniprbiome.com
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Consilium Strategic Communications
Tracy Cheung, Chris Welsh, Davide Salvi
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About SNIPR BIOME
SNIPR Biome is a clinical-stage company developing precision medicines for vulnerable patients with difficult-to-treat conditions. We are pioneering a novel use of CRISPR/Cas technology to better treat and prevent human diseases through precision killing or the genetic modification of bacteria. SNIPR Biome is a leader in this transformational area of science, with a clinical trial underway, strong IP, and a diverse and experienced team. We are the first company to orally dose humans with a CRISPR therapeutic and the first company to have been granted a patent for the use of CRISPR for targeting microbiomes. Our technology is used in collaborations with CARB-X, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Novo Nordisk. SNIPR is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, visit www.sniprbiome.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
CARB-X Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
Research reported in this publication is supported by CARB-X. CARB-X’s funding for this project is provided in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; under agreement number: 75A50122C00028, and by an award from Wellcome (WT224842). The content of this publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of CARB-X or any of its funders.
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