MRx0518 acts by increasing tumor immune infiltration and one goal is to use it in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically MRx-0518 has been shown to “increases tumour NK, CD4+, CD8+ cell count” while decreasing the CD8+/Treg ratio. The bacterial flagella act as a TLR5 agonist and signal the body to produce cytokines and immune cells in order to attack the tumor. MRx-0518 is a gram positive aerobic enterococcus strain selected for the ability of its flagellum to stimulate a host immune response. What underlies these apparently discrete observations is the unifying idea that the gut microbiota sends signals beyond the gut and that these signals have broad effects on a large swathe of target tissues.” 4D Pharma is attempting to transform the way disease is treated by adding live bacteria to the arsenal of therapeutic modalities we use to treat disease. Diwakar Dawar, an author of the study stated that the gut microbiome has been implicated “in seemingly unconnected states, ranging from the response to cancer treatments to obesity and a host of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, schizophrenia and autism. This suggests that the composition of the microbiome is an important factor that can induce a response and 4D Pharma seeks to harness this knowledge. In this particular study 6 out of 15 of the patients who previously failed to respond subsequently experienced either tumor shrinkage or stable disease after the fecal transplant. A study published in the prestigious journal Science noted that metastatic melanoma patients who had previously not responded to checkpoint inhibitors could be converted to responders by receiving a fecal microbiota transplant. However, the data produced in immuno-oncology is impressive. Immuno-oncologyĤD Pharma is working across many therapeutic areas. This article focuses on some of the most promising programs but is not a comprehensive overview of 4D Pharma’s pipeline. Given the impressive early data the company has produced in immuno-oncology and the vast pipeline, 4D Pharma which has a $240 million market cap appears undervalued when compared to peers. Data readouts in Covid-19 (Phase II), immuno-oncology including pancreatic cancer (Phase I/II) as well as a data readout for MRx-4DP0004 in asthma (Phase II) are expected in 2021. In addition to working in immuno-oncology, they are working on candidates in CNS, respiratory, autoimmune and GI indications. Using the approach of matching the functions of single strains of bacteria with disease characteristics, 4D Pharma has compiled an extensive pipeline of live biotherapeutics. The bacteria exert their therapeutic effect as they are transported through the GI tract. The company approaches this challenge by deeply understanding the functioning of gut bacteria in order to utilize these functions.

4D Pharma (FRPRF) seeks to identify live bacteria that can be used as therapeutics.

4d pharma oncology