Evelo Biosciences, Mayo Clinic Announce Collaboration

Evelo Biosciences announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to develop and commercialize monoclonal microbials for the treatment of inflammatory and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Joseph Murray, M.D. and Veena Taneja, Ph.D. of Mayo Clinic published data in Cell in August 2017 and Arthritis and Rheumatology in December 2016 which show that oral administration of a monoclonal microbial suppresses multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in animal models through modulation of systemic immune responses. In the published studies, the monoclonal microbial, an anaerobic commensal microbe isolated from a human biopsy sample, led to a decrease in activity of Th17 inflammatory cells and an increase in the activity and frequency of regulatory T-cells.

"Our studies show that human derived microbes can be used to treat multiple immunological diseases well beyond the gut," said Joseph Murray, M.D., professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic. "We are pleased to work with Evelo to develop this new class of medicine and to translate these discoveries into therapies."

Under the terms of the agreement, Evelo has a worldwide license to the technology and patent estate developed at Mayo Clinic. The data produced at Mayo and supported by Evelo's proprietary platform technologies has enabled a rapid drug development timeline with the first product candidate entering the clinic in 2018. Multiple issued patents cover compositions and methods of use of the monoclonal microbials.