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Mass General, Seres Partner in Microbiome Research
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Massachusetts General Hospital of the Harvard Medical School and Seres Therapeutics have partnered in a research effort to identify microbiome therapeutics for obesity and metabolic syndrome, according to a press release.
“Better treatment options are desperately needed to address obesity, and microbiome-based drugs are promising new approaches,” Elizabeth Hohmann, MD, from MGH, said in the press release. “In entering into this agreement with Seres, a leader in the development of microbiome therapeutics, we aim to advance our understanding of the role of the microbiome in obesity and related metabolic disorders and accelerate the development of meaningful new treatments for patients.”
Elizabeth Hohmann
Seres will support funding for Hohmann and colleagues’ placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept clinical study evaluating the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from lean donors on body weight and glycemic control in adults with obesity and metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, according to the press release. The company will also help to inform the design of microbiome therapeutics for these indications by analyzing patient samples for metagenomics signatures, metabolic markers and other relevant biomarkers.
The gut microbiome has been previously shown to play an important role in regulating human metabolism and weight control by affecting caloric availability, chronic inflammation and hormone-like small molecule production, according to the press release.
“While FMT is not a practical long-term clinical solution, FMT studies do provide important insights about the role of the microbiome in human health,” David Cook, PhD, executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer of Seres, said in the press release. “We believe that this research will provide critical insights to support the development of new microbiome therapeutics for obesity.”
Disclosures: Cook is employed by Seres.