Microbiotica unveils new data on MB097 at AACR IO meeting

Data presented in Los Angeles showcases therapy’s potential

Microbiotica, a clinical-stage biopharma company, has presented new data on MB097 at the AACR IO meeting held in Los Angeles. MB097 is an oral precision microbiome medicine, currently in development as a co-therapy with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for advanced melanoma patients.

Dr Mat Robinson, Microbiotica’s Senior Vice-President of Research, presented data from new pre-clinical studies in a poster titled: ‘Clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma is associated with distinct gut bacterial species that promote anti-tumour immunity by different mechanisms’.

The poster, accessible online, reveals that the bacterial strains within MB097 interact directly with dendritic cells to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL).

Certain MB097 bacteria also produce metabolites enhancing the tumour cell-killing potential of CTLs. One strain released metabolites that reversed the inhibitory effects of tumour-associated macrophages.

“These data begin to identify the different mechanisms by which gut commensal bacteria drive immunotherapy response” said Mat Robinson.

MB097 is currently being tested in an international phase 1b clinical study in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for patients with cutaneous melanoma who have failed to respond to immunotherapies. Data readout is expected by the end of 2025.

Microbiotica continues to advance its pipeline of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) aimed at harnessing the power of the human microbiome to improve patient outcomes in various diseases.