Seres Therapeutics, Inc., a leading microbiome therapeutics platform company, has entered into a multi-year collaboration with leading microbiome clinical-scientists from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to support the development of novel treatment approaches for certain rare genetic metabolic diseases including urea cycle disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Under the terms of the agreement, Penn Professors Gary D. Wu, M.D., and James Lewis, M.D., two global leaders in the field of the microbiome, plan to conduct investigator sponsored research evaluating rationally designed bacterial compositions for patients with ulcerative colitis. In a separate study, the Penn team agreed to collaborate with Seres to evaluate the role of the microbiome in certain rare genetic metabolic diseases, beginning with urea cycle disorders. This clinical study is designed to build upon published results suggesting that altering the gut microbiome may reduce toxic levels of ammonia in patients with urea cycle disorders. Findings from these studies are expected to be used in the design of Ecobiotic microbiome therapeutic candidates to interdict in these rare genetic disorders.

“Drs. Lewis and Wu are conducting groundbreaking microbiome research to identify important potential therapeutics for many serious diseases,” said David Cook, Ph.D., executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer of Seres. “We are particularly enthusiastic to collaborate on clinical studies that we believe will inform the design of our next-generation Ecobiotic therapeutic candidates.”

“As clinical researchers, we are eager to translate our scientific and clinical insights into effective new therapeutics for our patients,” said Dr. Wu. “We are very pleased to collaborate with Seres as we move this work forward.”

Seres Therapeutics, Inc. is a leading microbiome therapeutics platform company developing a novel class of biological drugs that are designed to treat disease by restoring the function of a dysbiotic microbiome, where the natural state of bacterial diversity and function is imbalanced.