RE: GEN Article14 Jul 2021 12:35
Hadn't seen the article before. Not much depth to it.
Strange to contrast 4D with a start up company with a consortia approach when others like Finch and Seres are much further down the line.
The California professor sounded pretty clueless as he was referring to results in mouse models, when there have been extensive trials in humans.
It is always important to be really clear about the diverse approaches being employed to harness the microbiome. It's a spectrum from probiotic mixes, FMTs to the kind of single strain work 4D is doing. There is no reason why a diversity of approaches is not likely to emerge.
However, the more I understand about the 4D approach compared to others the more confident I feel.
2 reasons although I have others.
I noticed that Seres dropped their oncology trial for a consortia drug mainly because of problems in the FMT control group. (FMTs banned during Covid). So it seems they need to demonstrate efficacy with an additional cohort whereas 4D can stick to a normal placebo group.
Second, the regulators will expect to see a clear demonstration of functionality. Exactly how the drug works in the body. A lot easier to do with a single strain than with a consortia.
The article mentions engraftment and dysbiosis. Neither of which are relevant to the 4D approach. Don't look to engraft, rather have the drug enter the body, do its job and exit.
Not looking to treat general dysbiosis, more the actual condition being targeted. Discussed in the Investor call yesterday.