• Therapeutic indications for gut microbiome interventions include difficult-to-treat infections such as Clostridium difficile and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as widespread metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes
• The role of the microbiome in the ‘gut-brain axis’ could lead to treatment advances for neurodegenerative disorders
• The spectrum of modalities for microbiome-based therapies includes ‘bugs as drugs’ through to small-molecule drug candidates
• Global human microbiome market is expected to continue growing, reaching >US$0.5bn by 2022
• Cumulated private equity investments in the microbiome field 2011-2016 >US$700m
Paris, France – 13 June 2017 – Rapidly advancing understanding of the relationship between humans and their symbiotic microbes, and how their imbalance (dysbiosis) triggers or contributes to diseases will transform opportunities for novel nutritional, diagnostic and therapeutic products, says a new report by Seventure Partners, one of Europe’s leaders in financing innovation, and a world-leader in the venture investment in the microbiome sector.
Published today at the start of the Microbiome Discovery and Development Congress in Berlin, the report, entitled ‘The Human Microbiome: A New Protagonist in Managing Human Health’, focuses on the gut microbiome, and describes recent scientific advances and the reaction of the life sciences and healthcare industry to this emerging field.
The report discusses the need to embrace dysbiosis, the holistic nature of the gut microbiome’s effects on the body and focuses on the micro-ecology – new targets and tools needed to decipher the microbiome. The report also delves into the issues around paradigm shift and opportunities in the field, highlighting those companies and the forefront of microbiome research and development.
Industry has already embraced the potential of the microbiome – from the small start-up to large corporates. Commenting in the report, Dr Dirk Gevers, Global Head, Janssen Human Microbiome Institute, Johnson & Johnson said that “inevitably, the patient journey of the future will combine elements of microbiome diagnostics and prescription drugs, with host-specific therapy and nutrition.”
Isabelle de Crémoux, CEO and Managing Partner, Seventure Partners, commented “Investing in the microbiome was considered exotic when we started six years ago. With a market predicted to be worth over half a billion US dollars by 2022, investing in microbiome based companies is now rapidly becoming mainstream, with an exponential growth of innovative companies being founded to develop products based on new biological insights.”
A total of US$744m was privately invested in microbiome companies focused on oncology, metabolic disease, infectious disease, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and Clostridium difficile between 2011 and 2016. While over a third was invested in developing treatments for GI disorders (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), 6% of the total was invested in the emerging oncology/microbiome interface. Metabolic diseases received a 16% split, while infectious diseases took a fifth. Investment into Clostridium difficile stood at 22%. Geographically, over US$600m was invested in North America, with the remainder invested in Europe.
The report features research based on extensive literature review, supplemented by a series of interviews with leading scientists, industry executives, entrepreneurs and investors. It includes perspectives on the impact of the microbiome on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, the interface between nutrition and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the current and future challenges that will need to be overcome, including evolving regulatory requirements. The findings of the report were previewed during Seventure’s workshop during Bio-Europe Spring in Barcelona.
To request a copy of the full report email contact@seventure.fr with your full contact details.
- ENDS -
Notes To Editors
About Seventure Partners
With over €660m in assets under management as of the end of 2016, Seventure Partners is a leading venture capital firm in Europe. Since 1997, Seventure Partners has invested in innovative businesses with high growth potential in two fields: Digital technologies in France and Germany, and Life sciences across Europe and North America.
In Life sciences, the four areas of focus include biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, connected health and medtech, industrial biotechnology, and last but not least: the microbiome, nutrition, foodtech and personalized medicine. Investments can range between €500k and €10m per round, or up to €20m per company, from early to late stage. Recently, Seventure Partners successfully launched Health for Life Capital™ which has attracted strategic investments from prestigious organizations including Danone, Tereos, Tornier, Lesaffre, Bel and Novartis, as well as entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
Seventure is a subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management. Natixis is the corporate investment management and financial services arm of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest French bank.
For more details: www.seventure.com / Twitter @SeventureP
About Health For Life Capital™
Seventure Partners launched Health for Life Capital™, the first venture capital fund focused mainly on investments in the microbiome and nutrition space. Europe is the primary focus of the fund, but it also invests in North America, Asia and Israel. The €160m fund attracted strategic investments from prestigious organisations including Danone, Novartis, Tereos, Tornier, Lesaffre and Bel, as well as financial institutions and entrepreneurs. Health for Life Capital™ is managed by Seventure’s Life sciences team.
About The Microbiome
The microbiome, which consists in all the micro-organisms that reside in and on the human body, is an exciting and fast-developing new field at the interface of pharmaceuticals and nutrition, offering abundant opportunities for developing new medicines. The composition and functionality of the bacterial ecosystem forming a large part of the microbiome, in the gut and elsewhere, has been linked to various health conditions, among which acne, psoriasis and allergies, gastrointestinal ailments, crohn disease, obesity, diabete, autism, depression or cancer. There are approximately 10 times more bacteria than human cells in the body, and over a hundred times more bacterial genes than human ones. The multitude of biological processes and indications affected by the bacterial ecosystem within the human microbiome, makes its balance critical to health. Understanding and maintaining and adequate balance of species within this complex ecosystem is an important goal for future medical progress, especially in the area of preventing and treating chronic diseases. For more details: www.seventure.com
• The role of the microbiome in the ‘gut-brain axis’ could lead to treatment advances for neurodegenerative disorders
• The spectrum of modalities for microbiome-based therapies includes ‘bugs as drugs’ through to small-molecule drug candidates
• Global human microbiome market is expected to continue growing, reaching >US$0.5bn by 2022
• Cumulated private equity investments in the microbiome field 2011-2016 >US$700m
Paris, France – 13 June 2017 – Rapidly advancing understanding of the relationship between humans and their symbiotic microbes, and how their imbalance (dysbiosis) triggers or contributes to diseases will transform opportunities for novel nutritional, diagnostic and therapeutic products, says a new report by Seventure Partners, one of Europe’s leaders in financing innovation, and a world-leader in the venture investment in the microbiome sector.
Published today at the start of the Microbiome Discovery and Development Congress in Berlin, the report, entitled ‘The Human Microbiome: A New Protagonist in Managing Human Health’, focuses on the gut microbiome, and describes recent scientific advances and the reaction of the life sciences and healthcare industry to this emerging field.
The report discusses the need to embrace dysbiosis, the holistic nature of the gut microbiome’s effects on the body and focuses on the micro-ecology – new targets and tools needed to decipher the microbiome. The report also delves into the issues around paradigm shift and opportunities in the field, highlighting those companies and the forefront of microbiome research and development.
Industry has already embraced the potential of the microbiome – from the small start-up to large corporates. Commenting in the report, Dr Dirk Gevers, Global Head, Janssen Human Microbiome Institute, Johnson & Johnson said that “inevitably, the patient journey of the future will combine elements of microbiome diagnostics and prescription drugs, with host-specific therapy and nutrition.”
Isabelle de Crémoux, CEO and Managing Partner, Seventure Partners, commented “Investing in the microbiome was considered exotic when we started six years ago. With a market predicted to be worth over half a billion US dollars by 2022, investing in microbiome based companies is now rapidly becoming mainstream, with an exponential growth of innovative companies being founded to develop products based on new biological insights.”
A total of US$744m was privately invested in microbiome companies focused on oncology, metabolic disease, infectious disease, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and Clostridium difficile between 2011 and 2016. While over a third was invested in developing treatments for GI disorders (including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), 6% of the total was invested in the emerging oncology/microbiome interface. Metabolic diseases received a 16% split, while infectious diseases took a fifth. Investment into Clostridium difficile stood at 22%. Geographically, over US$600m was invested in North America, with the remainder invested in Europe.
The report features research based on extensive literature review, supplemented by a series of interviews with leading scientists, industry executives, entrepreneurs and investors. It includes perspectives on the impact of the microbiome on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, the interface between nutrition and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the current and future challenges that will need to be overcome, including evolving regulatory requirements. The findings of the report were previewed during Seventure’s workshop during Bio-Europe Spring in Barcelona.
To request a copy of the full report email contact@seventure.fr with your full contact details.
- ENDS -
Notes To Editors
About Seventure Partners
With over €660m in assets under management as of the end of 2016, Seventure Partners is a leading venture capital firm in Europe. Since 1997, Seventure Partners has invested in innovative businesses with high growth potential in two fields: Digital technologies in France and Germany, and Life sciences across Europe and North America.
In Life sciences, the four areas of focus include biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, connected health and medtech, industrial biotechnology, and last but not least: the microbiome, nutrition, foodtech and personalized medicine. Investments can range between €500k and €10m per round, or up to €20m per company, from early to late stage. Recently, Seventure Partners successfully launched Health for Life Capital™ which has attracted strategic investments from prestigious organizations including Danone, Tereos, Tornier, Lesaffre, Bel and Novartis, as well as entrepreneurs and financial institutions.
Seventure is a subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management. Natixis is the corporate investment management and financial services arm of Groupe BPCE, the second-largest French bank.
For more details: www.seventure.com / Twitter @SeventureP
About Health For Life Capital™
Seventure Partners launched Health for Life Capital™, the first venture capital fund focused mainly on investments in the microbiome and nutrition space. Europe is the primary focus of the fund, but it also invests in North America, Asia and Israel. The €160m fund attracted strategic investments from prestigious organisations including Danone, Novartis, Tereos, Tornier, Lesaffre and Bel, as well as financial institutions and entrepreneurs. Health for Life Capital™ is managed by Seventure’s Life sciences team.
About The Microbiome
The microbiome, which consists in all the micro-organisms that reside in and on the human body, is an exciting and fast-developing new field at the interface of pharmaceuticals and nutrition, offering abundant opportunities for developing new medicines. The composition and functionality of the bacterial ecosystem forming a large part of the microbiome, in the gut and elsewhere, has been linked to various health conditions, among which acne, psoriasis and allergies, gastrointestinal ailments, crohn disease, obesity, diabete, autism, depression or cancer. There are approximately 10 times more bacteria than human cells in the body, and over a hundred times more bacterial genes than human ones. The multitude of biological processes and indications affected by the bacterial ecosystem within the human microbiome, makes its balance critical to health. Understanding and maintaining and adequate balance of species within this complex ecosystem is an important goal for future medical progress, especially in the area of preventing and treating chronic diseases. For more details: www.seventure.com
