MRM Health NV, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering microbiome-based therapeutics, has successfully closed a €55 million (US$64 million) Series B financing round to advance its pipeline of live biotherapeutic products for inflammatory diseases and immune-oncology. The round was led by French pharmaceutical group Biocodex and included participation from German-based ATHOS, new investor BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, and existing investors SFPIM, Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH), OMX Europe Venture Fund, Qbic II, and VIB.
Lead Program Shows Promise in Ulcerative Colitis
The funding will primarily support completion of a Phase 2b clinical trial for MRM Health's lead program MH002 in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. MH002 represents the most advanced rationally-designed live microbial consortium therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases, with positive clinical data from Phase 2a trials demonstrating safety and initial efficacy in both mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis and the orphan disease indication pouchitis.
The therapeutic consists of six well-characterized and safe commensal bacterial strains, selected and optimized through MRM Health's proprietary CORAL® technology platform to target key disease-driving mechanisms. In preclinical studies, MH002 inhibited inflammatory responses through greatly increased butyrate production and restored the epithelial barrier disrupted in ulcerative colitis in co-culture models and organoderm systems.
Strategic Partnership Enhances Manufacturing Capabilities
As part of the financing, MRM Health and Biocodex have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop novel therapeutic assets and scalable manufacturing capabilities for live biotherapeutic products. This partnership will provide significant additional non-dilutive funding in the coming years, further strengthening the company's operational foundation.
"Biocodex is a pioneer in microbiota science for over 70 years," said Nicolas Coudurier, CEO of Biocodex. "We are excited to support MRM Health's unique platform approach and leadership role in the field, reflecting our strategy of fostering innovation rooted in our core expertise. By combining our long-standing leadership in microbiota with breakthrough live biotherapeutics platforms, we aim to deliver meaningful solutions for patients, worldwide."
Pipeline Expansion and Platform Development
Beyond the Phase 2b trial for MH002, the company plans to advance two highly innovative novel microbial consortia programs to IND approval, targeting inflammation and improved efficacy of immune-oncology therapies, respectively. MRM Health also intends to expand its portfolio of live biotherapeutic products through strategic partnerships in both human and animal health.
The CORAL® platform enables the cultivation of complete bacterial consortia as a single drug substance through breakthrough scalable and standardized cGMP manufacturing processes. This unique capability is expected to provide both key regulatory and patient compliance advantages compared to traditional approaches.
Industry Validation and Leadership Perspectives
"This funding marks a pivotal moment for MRM Health," said Sam Possemiers, CEO of MRM Health. "With the support of our experienced international investor syndicate, we are now well positioned to deliver transformative therapies for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, where current treatments often fall short. Our CORAL® platform gives us a unique edge in designing potent, resilient and scalable microbiome-based therapeutics."
Julian Zachmann from ATHOS emphasized the maturity of the technology: "MRM Health is at the forefront of a new era in microbiome-based therapeutics. Their technology has reached the maturity needed to effectively develop, scale and commercialize live biotherapeutics for major chronic inflammatory diseases with high unmet need."
Governance and Future Outlook
As part of the Series B financing, Jean-Patrick Hennebelle (Biocodex), Julian Zachmann (ATHOS), and Goedele Ertveldt (SFPIM) will join MRM Health's Board of Directors, bringing additional pharmaceutical and investment expertise to guide the company's continued development.
The company, which was spun out of VIB Gent in 2020, is positioned to leverage its two decades of scientific expertise in microbiome research to translate innovative science into therapeutic solutions for patients with chronic inflammatory conditions where current treatment options remain inadequate.
