MRM Health Partners with Netherlands Cancer Institute to Develop Microbiome Therapies for Cancer Immunotherapy

MRM Health (search)Search term NV, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in microbiome-based therapeutics, has announced a strategic collaboration with Prof. Emile Voest's research group at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and Oncode Institute (search)Search term to develop next-generation immune-oncology therapies. The partnership combines MRM Health's cutting-edge microbiome science with leading translational research and clinical expertise to create live biotherapeutic products that enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Addressing Critical Limitations in Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer therapy but face significant limitations that restrict their clinical impact. These treatments are constrained by immune-related adverse events, heightened toxicity in combination therapies, primary or acquired resistance in many patients, and chronic effects that impair quality of life. Growing scientific evidence demonstrates that the gut microbiome can positively impact these resistance mechanisms and immune-related adverse events, offering the potential to enhance ICI efficacy, safety, and combination potential through targeted modulation.

Specific microbiome compositions and functions are associated with more favorable clinical outcomes, while microbiome dysbiosis or imbalance, induced by antibiotics or other therapies, has been linked to reduced survival. Methods aiming to alter the microbiome show promise in improving immunotherapy responses across preclinical and early clinical research.

CORAL® Platform Technology for Microbiome Modulation

MRM Health (search)Search term is applying its proprietary CORAL® platform to design and develop optimized bacterial consortia that can restore the dysbiotic microbiome while modulating immune and metabolic pathways relevant to ICI response. The CORAL® platform represents a technology for creating and manufacturing next-generation live biotherapeutic products based on optimized bacteria consortia, using a bioinformatics-guided discovery engine to identify therapeutic strains and proprietary optimization technology to create consortia with faster onset-of-action and increased potency.

The platform's key differentiator is its manufacturing process, which produces the entire consortia as a single drug substance, allowing for scalable, cost-effective, and standardized production. The close partnership with Prof. Voest will provide unique insights into patient disease profiles, advanced microbiome data and immune cell profiling, which should enable the acceleration of MRM Health (search)Search term's internal program.

Leadership Perspectives on Microbiome-Driven Innovation

"We are entering a new era where the microbiome will become a key driver of immunotherapy success," said Sam Possemiers, CEO of MRM Health (search)Search term. "By combining our rational microbiome design platform with the deep oncology and immunology expertise of Prof. Voest and his team at the NKI, we aim to accelerate the creation of next-generation therapies that increase response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors, meaningfully improving patient outcomes across multiple cancer types. This collaboration also positions MRM Health in one of the fastest-growing segments of the global cancer market, reinforcing our leadership in microbiome-driven innovation with the objective of developing best-in-class live biotherapeutic products in this field."

Prof. Emile Voest, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University Medical Center Utrecht and Senior Group Leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, noted: "Our research has demonstrated the critical role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in shaping responses to immunotherapy. By partnering with MRM Health (search)Search term, which is at the forefront of this technology, our insights can be turned into innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming resistance and unlocking the full potential of ICI treatments."

Strategic Collaboration Framework

The collaboration exemplifies Oncode Institute (search)Search term's mission to turn important academic discoveries into tangible patient and economic benefits. "This public–private collaboration underscores that world-class research and a strong, innovative biotech industry are essential to delivering new and more effective treatments for patients, while also creating new business opportunities," says Bertholt Leeftink, Managing Director of Oncode Institute.

Prof. Voest has established strong expertise in tumor microbiome research, including its role in cancer progression and treatment response, as well as in the integration of real-world clinical data to inform translational oncology. His academic group is devoted to bringing precision medicine to patients and focuses on the development of genomics and immune-guided treatment strategies by employing sophisticated co-culture models, computational approaches and clinical trials to improve drug development and immunotherapy.

Company Pipeline and Development Strategy

In addition to advancing this immune-oncology collaboration, MRM Health (search)Search term has ongoing preclinical programs in other inflammatory diseases. The company's lead program MH002View drug details is currently in Phase IIb development in ulcerative colitis and the orphan disease indication pouchitis, demonstrating the broader therapeutic potential of the CORAL® platform across multiple disease areas with high unmet medical need.