Biomica Finishes Enrollment for Cancer Drug Trial

Biomica, a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., has achieved a significant milestone in its clinical trials for a novel immuno-oncology drug. The company has completed enrollment for its Phase I study, which is focused on assessing the safety and tolerability of BMC128, a microbiome-based drug. This development is a crucial step in advancing the treatment of cancer patients who have not responded to previous immunotherapies.

The trial, which began on July 11, 2022, is examining the effects of BMC128 when combined with Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo®, an immune checkpoint inhibitor. The study includes patients suffering from non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal cell carcinoma, who have shown resistance to standard immunotherapy treatments. The research is being conducted at two prominent healthcare facilities in Israel: The Davidoff Center and the Rambam Health Care Campus.

BMC128 is a carefully crafted microbial consortium, identified through a sophisticated microbiome analysis using PRISM, a proprietary platform driven by Evogene's MicroBoost AI technology. As a Live Bacterial Product (LBP), BMC128 consists of four distinct bacterial strains that are naturally found in the human gut. These strains possess specific capabilities that may enhance the body's immune response to cancer and stimulate anti-tumor activity through various biological mechanisms.

Dr. Elran Haber, Biomica's CEO, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the enrollment phase, highlighting the importance of this step in the development of BMC128. He also conveyed optimism about the drug's potential to meet the needs of patients who have not benefited from existing treatments.

Biomica is dedicated to the development of innovative therapies based on microbiome analysis, with a focus on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, immuno-oncology, and gastrointestinal disorders. The company utilizes the PRISM system, a computational platform that leverages the power of AI to identify disease-related microbiome entities and to create new therapeutic options.

Evogene Ltd., Biomica's parent company, is a leader in computational biology, committed to transforming the development of life-science products through the use of advanced technologies. The company has developed three distinct tech-engines—MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI, and GeneRator AI—that harness the power of Big Data and AI to enhance the discovery and development of products in various life science domains.

Biomica and Evogene are poised to make significant contributions to the field of immuno-oncology with BMC128, offering hope to cancer patients who have exhausted other treatment options. The preliminary results of the Phase I trial are anticipated in the first half of 2024, marking a potential turning point in cancer therapy.