Eligo Bioscience has secured a $5 million grant from the French government to accelerate the development of its innovative microbiome-based gene therapy platform for dermatological applications. The funding, part of the "Innovations in Biotherapies and Bioproduction" initiative under France's 2030 strategy, will support the advancement and scaling of the company's proprietary topical gene delivery technology.
The platform enables the genetic engineering of skin-resident bacteria to produce therapeutic biologics directly at the site of immune dysregulation, potentially offering a novel approach to treating various skin conditions.
Innovative Approach to Dermatological Treatment
Eligo's technology leverages the skin microbiome's role in cutaneous immune regulation. The company's proprietary platform allows for in-situ genetic engineering of commensal bacteria residing within hair follicles, transforming them into localized bioreactors capable of expressing high-potency biologics precisely where needed.
"This funding empowers us to establish a robust bioproduction process for our first-in-class topical microbiome-targeting gene-editing therapies, laying the groundwork for expanding into a wide range of immuno-dermatological indications," said Dr. Xavier Duportet, CEO and Co-Founder of Eligo Bioscience. "It reinforces our ambition to deliver truly transformative therapeutic solutions, addressing critical medical challenges faced by millions of patients worldwide."
Advancing Toward Clinical Validation
The grant follows several significant milestones for Eligo, including the publication of its microbiome base-editing platform in Nature, securing multiple foundational patents covering in situ editing of the skin microbiome, and successfully expanding its Series B funding round to $35 million.
The company's lead program focuses on a CRISPR-based topical therapeutic targeting moderate to severe acne vulgaris. With the new funding, Eligo will optimize and scale up the bioproduction process of its gene delivery vector in preparation for later-stage clinical trials.
To accelerate this process, Eligo is partnering with Biose Industries, a globally recognized Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in microbial fermentation. Biose's extensive Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) expertise in scaling complex microbial therapeutics will be crucial for Eligo's progress toward clinical validation.
Expanding the Pipeline to Immuno-Dermatology
Beyond acne, the funding will support Eligo's exploration of multiple therapeutic payloads and the development of a diversified immuno-dermatology pipeline. The company aims to target chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated skin diseases with significant unmet medical needs.
The strategic positioning of commensal bacteria near resident immune cells within hair follicles provides a unique opportunity for targeted intervention in immune dysregulation. By engineering these bacteria to produce therapeutic proteins locally, Eligo's approach could potentially offer improved efficacy with reduced systemic side effects compared to traditional treatments.
This non-dilutive financial support strengthens Eligo's capacity to rapidly advance its clinical pipeline while exploring new applications of its technology platform in dermatology.
Market Context and Potential Impact
The global market for dermatological therapeutics continues to grow, with particular demand for innovative treatments addressing chronic inflammatory conditions. Current therapies often face limitations in efficacy, safety profiles, or patient compliance.
Eligo's platform represents a potentially disruptive approach in this space. By harnessing the skin's natural microbiome to deliver therapeutic agents precisely where needed, the technology could address fundamental limitations of existing treatments while opening new possibilities for conditions with limited therapeutic options.
The $5 million grant not only provides financial support but also validates the potential of Eligo's approach within France's broader strategy to foster innovation in biotherapeutics and bioproduction. As the company advances toward clinical validation, its progress will be closely watched by both the scientific community and industry stakeholders interested in novel approaches to dermatological treatment.
