SNIPR Biome secures funding for CRISPR-based EED treatments in pregnant women

SNIPR Biome, a leading innovator in the development of CRISPR-Cas armed phages (CAPs) aimed at preventing and treating bacterial infections, has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This financial support is intended to fast-track the development of SNIPR Biome's microbial gene therapy platform, particularly to address Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) in pregnant women from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

EED is a chronic condition of the small intestine marked by persistent low-grade inflammation due to the presence of entero-pathogens, which adversely affects gut health and nutrient absorption. In pregnant women, compromised nutritional intake or absorption can have detrimental effects on fetal development. By specifically targeting these harmful gut pathogens, SNIPR Biome aims to enhance EED management and improve pregnancy outcomes in LMICs.

The funding from the Gates Foundation will be utilized to create CRISPR-armed phages (CAPs) from SNIPR Biome’s extensive phage library. These CAPs are designed to exhibit broad and potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains collected from various LMIC sites. SNIPR Biome's existing CRISPR-armed phage cocktail (SNIPR001), which comprises four CAPs that broadly target E. coli, will serve as a foundation for this project.

Christian Grøndahl, the CEO and Co-founder of SNIPR Biome, expressed gratitude for the support and trust shown by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He emphasized that the funding is a significant endorsement of SNIPR Biome’s potential to improve global health and ensure their innovative products are accessible in both developed and developing regions.

SNIPR Biome is a Danish biotech company at the clinical-stage, specializing in precision medicines leveraging CRISPR technology for microbial gene therapy. The company is pioneering the use of CRISPR-Cas technology in the precise eradication of bacteria or the modification of genes to better treat and prevent human diseases. Notably, SNIPR Biome was the first company to administer a CRISPR therapeutic orally to humans and has received US and European patents for using CRISPR to target microbiomes. The company collaborates with notable partners such as Novo Nordisk A/S, CARB-X, SPRIN-D, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.