Results from research on a 4d Pharma (LON: DDDD) Live Biotherapeutic product, the company said on Tuesday, are yet more evidence that these kinds of drugs could revolutionize cancer treatment.
The company’s Live Biotherapeutic products (“LBPs”) are a fascinating class of drug derived from the microbiome. This is the name for the 10 trillion to 100 trillion microbes living on and inside the body. Most of these microbes reside in the gut.
One such LBP, Megasphaera massiliensis MRx1299, was discovered using the firm’s MicroRx platform. This is a single strain of the bacterium Megasphaera massiliensis.
Exciting research in CAR-T
Highly regarded journal Nature Communications published this pre-clinical research on LBP MRx1299.
This latest research, in animal models of cancer, showed that the bacterium Megasphaera massiliensis – or its short chain fatty acid metabolite pentanoate – improved anti-tumor activity inCAR-T therapies. These are therapies that involve reprogramming immune cells to target cancer.
Research also found that it was able to “enhance the anti-tumor activity” of immune cells called T lymphocytes.
4d Pharma collaborated with Germany’s Philipps-University Marburg and Universitätsklinikum Würzburg on the research. This followed previous work showing that MRx1299 had “specific histone deacetylase (“HDAC”) inhibitory activity”.
HDACs, enzymes made in the body, play an important role in cancer development. By inhibiting these HDACs, it is possible to slow the spread of cancers. The US has already approved four drugs that inhibit HDACs to treat cancers.
Building on a solid foundation
Prior research had also shown that MRx1299 was a rare, prolific pentanoate producer. Pentanoate has been shown to enhance anti-tumor activity in immune cells.
This previous work led to talk with the lab of Alexander Visekruna, who was the corresponding author on this latest publication. Visekruna had previously been investigating the effects of short chain fatty acids on certain immune cells.
Imke Mulder, research director at 4D pharma, pointed to the similarities between this latest research and results from its other LBPs in cancer. She specifically highlighted the success of prior work combining its other LBP, MRx0518, with Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) cancer drug Keytruda.
Revolutionary potential
Mulder commented on the “important role” of the company’s live biotherapeutics in cancer treatment, when combined with immunotherapies.
She said this new research, showing that the firm’s drugs can potentially improve the efficacy of cell therapies — including CAR-T — is highly significant. It supports both Live Biotherapeutics as a cancer treatment and 4d Pharma’s MicroRx platform in particular.
“This demonstrates not only the importance of Live Biotherapeutics as a new modality poised to revolutionize the treatment of a wide range of cancers, but also the power of our MicroRx platform to continue making significant discoveries and advances in this field,” Mulder commented.
