Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Enterome, a Paris-based company that develops pharmaceuticals and diagnostics based on the gut microbiome, have formed an immuno-oncology-focused collaboration for the discovery and development of microbiome-derived biomarkers, drug targets, and bioactive molecules. The collaboration aims to develop potential companion diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer. The collaboration will also seek to identify microbiome-derived biomarkers in an effort to improve clinical outcomes for patients treated with the BMS’ immuno-oncology portfolio.

Under the agreement, BMS will be granted exclusive rights to intellectual property and therapies generated during the collaboration. Enterome will receive an upfront payment of $15 million for access to its technology plus research and development funding. Enterome is also eligible to receive preclinical and clinical milestone payments for each licensed therapeutic candidate plus royalties on net sales. Enterome is eligible for additional milestone payments in relation to new diagnostic products discovered and developed during the collaboration. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The collaboration will combine BMS’ experience in immunotherapy discovery and development with Enterome’s proprietary metagenomic technology platform. It is thought that changes in a host’s immune system driven by the gut microbiome can be exploited to identify targets and bioactive compounds with potential to augment anti-cancer immune responses, according to BMS.

Source: Bristol-Myers Squibb