LNC Therapeutics. (4/15/20). "Press Release: LNC Therapeutics Announces the Acquisition of an Exclusive Worldwide Licence on the First Patent related to Christensenella’s Therapeutic Applications in Mood Disorders". Bordeaux.

	Region	ALL
	Organisation	LNC Therapeutics (FR)
	Organisation 2	University of Valencia
	Product	Christensenella gut bacteria
	Product 2	microbiomic treatment (live biotherapeutic product, LBP)
	Index term	LNC Therapeutics–Univ Valencia: microbiomic treatment, 202004– license ww excl for patent on Christensenella therapeutics for mood disorders
	Person	Sanz, Yolanda (Univ Valencia + IATA + MyNewGut project)
	Person 2	Rawadi, Georges (StromaCare 202402– CEO before eureKARE + LNC Therapeutics + Celyad/Cardio3 BioSciences + Cellectis)

> First biotech company to harness the therapeutic potential of the Christensenella gut bacteria in mood disorders

> Strengthens portfolio of intellectual property and Live Biotherapeutic Products for new applications in areas of high unmet medical need

LNC Therapeutics, a French biotech company specializing in the research and development of innovative drugs harnessing the potential of the gut microbiome, announced today that it entered into an exclusive licence agreement with the University of Valencia, Spain, for its patent dedicated to the therapeutic applications of Christensenella gut bacteria in mood disorders.

The acquisition of this licence grants LNC Therapeutics the exclusive worldwide research, manufacturing and marketing rights of the therapeutics developed for the treatment of mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety. This agreement is based on the work of the research team led by Prof. Yolanda Sanz, Professor of Research and Head of the “Microbial Ecology, Nutrition and Health” group at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain, as well as the lead investigator of the European MyNewGut project, one of the world’s largest microbiome research initiatives conducted so far.
The unique gut-brain connection: a new treatment approach to mood disorders identified by LNC Therapeutics

The gut has its own neural network, the enteric nervous system, which alone contains over 500 million neurons and is connected directly to the brain via the vagus nerve. Research on this bidirectional communication system, known as the gut-brain axis, is a fast-growing field. It is now clear that the gut affects the brain, and numerous studies confirmed the role of the intestinal microbiota on neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders. Targeting the gut microbiome offers promising new therapeutic approaches in neurological and mental disorders.

As a keystone of the gut microbiome, the Christensenellaceae family of bacteria promises to be an important source of treatment innovations. It enables exploration of a new avenue of research in the treatment of chronic conditions, such as obesity or metabolic and inflammatory diseases. In addition, LNC Therapeutics’ focus on the beneficial properties of Christensenellaceae, extended to targeting the gut-brain axis for the treatment of mood disorders, will pave the way for new and promising applications.

“The conclusion of this agreement with a leader in the discovery of the gut microbiome’s therapeutic applications such as LNC Therapeutics reinforces our belief about the potential advantages of the bacteria Christensenella in human health. The fundamental role played by the gut and its microbiota in the functions of our central nervous system is still a field of research in development, and I am convinced that this new research program will allow us to quickly identify new therapeutics properties specific to a bacterial strain of Christensenella for mood disorders. “ said Pr. Yolanda Sanz.

“We are pleased to announce today the acquisition of this new licence that broadens the applications of our Live Biotherapeutic Products to mood disorders, which is an area of high unmet medical needs,” concluded Georges Rawadi, CEO of LNC Therapeutics. “The gut-brain axis is certainly one of the most innovative area in drug discovery today, and it is an exciting opportunity for LNC Therapeutics to leverage our expertise in preclinical, manufacturing and regulatory activities to develop first in class products in that field”.

About Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs)

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, a live biotherapeutic product contains live organisms, such as bacteria, and is applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease or condition in human beings. LNC Therapeutics has opted to develop single strain live biotherapeutic products, which use a single strain of bacteria selected specifically for each drug candidate

Record changed: 2023-06-05