SAN DIEGO, Calif., January 4, 2023 — Bloom Science, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines for neurological diseases and conditions, and Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd, the Weizmann Institute of Science’s technology transfer arm to advance science for the benefit of humanity, have entered into an agreement in which Bloom obtained from Yeda an exclusive, worldwide license to use specific microbial strains in developing and commercializing live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) to ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) symptoms.
There is a large unmet need for patients who have not responded to existing therapies for ALS, a disease that causes nerve cells to die, which breaks the neural pathways, and causes extreme mobility loss over time. Bloom’s systematic approach to developing a new generation of therapeutics starts with the gut microbiome.
“The gut microbiome’s influence on the brain offers incredible potential for healing,” said Bloom Science founder and CEO Christopher Reyes, PhD. “Bloom’s collaboration with Yeda enables us to advance our program to modulate the gut microbiome interaction with the brain and provide ALS patients with new therapeutic options that help restore brain function.”
Bloom’s final lead orally-administered LBP candidate selection for ALS, BL-002, started in 2022 with animal models and will advance towards human clinical trials in 2023. The company is testing multiple drug candidates for ALS.
Bloom’s BL-002 is built on evidence that oxidative stress drives ALS by causing the loss of motor neurons and the dysfunction of mitochondria. Nicotinamide, an important NAD+ pathway metabolite and a derivative of vitamin B3, can counter the effects of ALS.
BL-002 produces this vitamin and Bloom has shown it attenuates motor-neuron loss, and increases lifespan and motor coordination, in ALS model mice.
ABOUT BLOOM SCIENCE
Bloom Science is a clinical-stage biotechnology company on a mission to bring transformative live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) to underserved patients with rare or complex neurological diseases who have not adequately responded to existing therapies. Bloom is taking a fundamentally different path to developing medicines by harnessing our expanding insight into how the gut microbiome modulates key processes in the immune system, nervous system and brain. Bloom has developed a platform to investigate how changes in the gut microbiome influence brain biochemistry and immune system activity that it can leverage to develop multi-functional therapeutics addressing multi-pathway driven neurological disorders. Learn more: https://bloomscience.com/
SAN DIEGO, Calif., January 4, 2023 — Bloom Science, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines for neurological diseases and conditions, successfully completed a pre-IND (Investigational New Drug) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and gained alignment on the initial Phase 1 clinical trial of its oral, live biotherapeutic product (LBP), BL-001, for the treatment of patients with Dravet syndrome.
Dravet syndrome is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, a severe form of epilepsy with frequent and difficult to treat seizures that begin in infancy or early childhood and causes developmental challenges. Bloom’s BL-001 LBP is reverse translated from positive clinical outcomes associated with the ketogenic diet in treating refractory epilepsy.
Bloom presented to the FDA its planned Phase 1 study design, including the proposed patient population. The FDA aligned with the source and characterization of Bloom’s product strains, provided patient criteria guidance and agreed that no additional nonclinical studies are required to initiate the Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers.
BL-001 is set to enter the clinic, with a phase 1 clinical trial in early 2023.
ABOUT BLOOM SCIENCE
Bloom Science is a clinical-stage biotechnology company on a mission to bring transformative live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) to underserved patients with rare or complex neurological diseases who have not adequately responded to existing therapies. Bloom is taking a fundamentally different path to developing medicines by harnessing our expanding insight into how the gut microbiome modulates key processes in the immune system, nervous system and brain. Bloom has developed a platform to investigate how changes in the gut microbiome influence brain biochemistry and immune system activity that it can leverage to develop multi-functional therapeutics addressing multi-pathway driven neurological disorders. Learn more: https://bloomscience.com/
SAN DIEGO, Calif., December 17, 2022 — Bloom Science, Inc. founder & CEO Christopher Reyes, PhD presents live at Biotech Showcase™ 2023 on Tuesday January 10 at 2:45 p.m. PT.
Biotech Showcase, produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group, is an investor conference focused on driving advances in therapeutic development by providing a sophisticated networking platform for executives and investors that fosters investment and partnership opportunities. The conference takes place each year during the course of one of the industry’s largest gatherings and busiest weeks.
“We are delighted that Bloom Science will be joining us in San Francisco and presenting at Biotech Showcase this year,” said Sara Demy, CEO of Demy-Colton. “Biotech Showcase is a prime occasion for life science entrepreneurs and investors to come together to discover the potential of innovative technologies that will drive the future of drug discovery.”
ABOUT BLOOM SCIENCE Bloom Science is a clinical-stage biotechnology company on a mission to bring transformative live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) to underserved patients with rare or complex neurological diseases who have not adequately responded to existing therapies. Bloom is taking a fundamentally different path to developing medicines by harnessing our expanding insight into how the gut microbiome modulates key processes in the immune system, nervous system and brain. Bloom has developed a platform to investigate how changes in the gut microbiome influence brain biochemistry and immune system activity that it can leverage to develop multi-functional therapeutics addressing multi-pathway driven neurological disorders.
How a 100-year-old study spawned a novel class of multifunctional neurological treatments.
Read the latest on Bloom Science’s epilepsy and ALS lead programs and how a 100-year-old study spawned a novel class of multifunctional neurological treatments via our Nature Biopharma Dealmakers article.
Bloom Science is developing novel engineered and rationally selected microbiome-based treatments for neurological and inflammatory diseases with initial programs in Drug Resistant Epilepsy and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
San Diego based biotech company Bloom Science announced today it successfully closed a USD $12 Million Series A financing with a syndicate of life science investors led by Leaps by Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer AG, and the ALS Investment Fund. Additional investors include Apollo Health Ventures, as well as existing investor, Joyance Partners.
Bloom Science is developing innovative therapeutics for rare neurological diseases utilizing its novel drug discovery platform, IrisRx, that reverse translates clinical treatments to identify the compositional and functional microbiome building blocks. By focusing on the microbiome, the collection of trillions of bacteria that live in and on the human body, Bloom is pioneering microbiome-based therapies targeting the gut-immune-brain axis, an interconnected network comprised of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, the host immune system, the central nervous system and the brain.
Bloom’s microbial drug candidates are rationally selected and engineered to target key underlying disease pathways disrupted by environmental, age-related and/or genetic factors. These therapeutics have the potential to provide patients with much needed therapeutic options for a broad spectrum of neurological and inflammatory diseases.
Bloom Science will use the Series A financing to advance its pipeline including lead program BL-001 being developed for orphan, drug-resistant epilepsies. The drug candidate consists of proprietary microbes necessary and sufficient to reproduce the clinical efficacy observed with the ketogenic diet, targeting neuronal hyperexcitation and changes in brain levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid that serves as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
The Series A proceeds will further enable Bloom Science to accelerate the development of its therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ALS. The gut microbiome has been linked to severity of disease in ALS and represents a novel and promising potential target for treatment and disease modification. Bloom is also applying its IrisRx platform towards advancing discovery programs in neurodegeneration, dementia and inflammation.
“Bloom Science was born out of a vision to harness the gut-immune-brain axis and exponentially expand the landscape of available therapies for patients with severe or untreatable neurological and inflammatory conditions,” said Christopher Reyes, PhD, CEO and Founder of Bloom Science, “This investment by our preeminent global syndicate fuels the further development of Bloom’s pipeline and represents a significant opportunity to ally with like-minded investors who share our ambitious goals.”
“Leaps by Bayer aims to break through the impossible – creating curative innovations that have the potential to change life on earth for the better,” said Juergen Eckhardt, MD, Head of Leaps by Bayer. “To protect brain and mind is one of the big goals Leaps by Bayer is trying to solve as part of our overall mission. We believe Bloom Science’s unique approach to leverage the gut-immune-brain axis for novel microbiota therapies will enable us to achieve this mandate and therefore improve the lives of many patients.”
“We are excited to support Bloom Science in their mission to develop rationally selected microbiome-based therapies for diseases with high unmet need, including ALS. We look forward to working with the Bloom Science team to advance their promising and novel approach,” said Felix Von Coerper, managing partner of ALS Investment Fund.
The investment will enable Bloom to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for BL-001 in refractory epilepsy and advance into Phase I clinical trials, as well as further expand development of its platform and advance its research and talent acquisition.
About Bloom Science
Bloom Science is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing live biotherapeutics to treat unmet neurological and inflammatory diseases. Our team of scientists, data-geeks and never-say-die entrepreneurs are rethinking how medicines are developed by taking advantage of our expanding insight into the role our gut microbiome plays in modulating key processes in the brain and immune system. For more information, please visit the Bloom Science website at https://www.bloomscience.com/
About ALS Investment Fund
The ALS Investment Fund supports and finances biotech companies developing drugs for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We invest globally but focus on Europe and the US. Being a disease-specific VC fund, we bring in-depth knowledge and a deep network in the space. The portfolio companies we invest in are diversified, with multiple therapies and/or active programs in other, often larger, disease indications, typically in the area of neuro-degeneration. More information is available at www.alsinvestmentfund.com
About Apollo Health Ventures
Apollo Health Ventures is a transatlantic venture capital firm and company builder
specialized in developing and investing in biotechnology and health tech ventures targeting the biology of aging to treat and prevent chronic age-related diseases. Apollo’s team consists of entrepreneurs, seasoned biotech investors and scientists with remarkable track records in life science investments and venture creation. https://www.apollo.vc/
About Joyance Partners:
Joyance Partners is a $20M venture capital fund focused on emerging technologies that can help individuals feel happier, healthier, calmer, more confident, and less anxious or subject to pain. Joyance Partners is directed by Managing Partner Mike Edelhart and Founding Partner William Lohse, who also oversee the Social Starts venture capital partnership funds. Learn more about at https://www.joyancepartners.com/
