#25 Deeptech Insights - Gut Microbiome Breakthroughs: How Research is Changing the Game
DeepTech Innovations Unlocked: This Week Our Expert News Analysis for Smarter Business and Investment Decisions
By Eden Djanashvili, Deeptech Expert
What is going on?
Although many of the gut microbiome conditions are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, it is estimated that millions of people worldwide are affected by conditions related to the gut microbiome, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection.
In recent years, scientists have been studying the gut microbiome more closely to better understand how it works and how it can be influenced. Their goal: find new treatments and interventions to improve our overall health and prevent or treat a range of (harmful) diseases.
What does it mean?
A new paradigm shift in gut microbiome research -driven by advances in technology- is moving away from thinking about the gut microbiome as a static entity that can be simply "balanced" or "fixed" towards a more highly dynamic and variable system unique to each individual that can change rapidly in response to a wide range of factors including diet, lifestyle, medications and environmental exposures.
Interventions that work for one person may not work for another. As a result, researchers are increasingly focused on developing personalized treatments that take into account a person's individual gut microbiome profile and unique characteristics including targeted dietary changes, prebiotics and probiotics, and other approaches that are tailored to each person's specific needs.
Why should I care?
💸For markets: increasing demand in various markets leading to new business and investment opportunities.
The gut microbiome is benefiting a range of markets by driving innovation, creating new opportunities for growth, and increasing demand for a range of products and services that support gut health:
Probiotics and Prebiotics: The growing interest in gut microbiome health has driven demand for probiotic and prebiotic supplements, which are designed to promote a healthy gut microbiome by providing beneficial bacteria or supporting the growth of these bacteria. This has led to a growing market for probiotic and prebiotic products, which is expected to reach $77.6 billion by 2025. Some startups innovating in the field:
BIOHM: is a US-based startup that offers probiotics and prebiotics designed to support digestive and immune health. They also offer a gut microbiome testing kit that analyzes both bacterial and fungal components of the microbiome.
BiomX: is an Isareli-based startup developing both natural and engineered phage cocktails designed to target and destroy bacteria that affect the appearance of skin, as well as harmful bacteria in chronic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis and colorectal cancer.
Functional Foods: The gut microbiome is also driving innovation in the food industry, as manufacturers look for ways to create foods that support a healthy gut microbiome. These "functional foods" may contain probiotics, prebiotics, or other ingredients that support gut health, and they are expected to be a major growth area for the food industry in the coming years. Innovation examples are:
Nourished: is a UK-based company providing a customized nutrition product that uses 3D printing technology to create bespoke gummy vitamins on demand.
Aguulp: is a UK-based company providing liquid prebiotic supplement that helps to feed your gut's healthy.
Diagnostics and Testing: The gut microbiome is increasingly being recognized as an important factor in a range of health conditions, including digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases, and even mental health conditions. This has led to a growing market for gut microbiome testing and diagnostics, as healthcare providers and patients seek to understand the role of the gut microbiome in these conditions. Examples are:
MyMicroZoo: is a Netherland-based company using state-of-the-art DNA analysis technology to show which bacteria live in your gut. This provides the user with valuable information on how their microbiome is composed.
Viome: is a US-based startup that offers personalized gut microbiome testing and analysis. They use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze gut microbiome data and provide personalized dietary recommendations to improve gut health.
Pharmaceuticals: The gut microbiome is also an area of growing interest for the pharmaceutical industry, as researchers explore the potential of microbiome-targeted therapies for a range of health conditions. For example, there are currently several clinical trials underway to test the efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection. Some innovations happening are:
Holobiome: is a US-based startup that focuses on developing microbiome-based therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Their lead candidate is a probiotic product designed to restore gut microbiome balance and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Biomica: is an Israeli-based startup that develops microbiome-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Their lead candidate is a microbiome-based cancer therapy designed to activate the immune system and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatment.
🧑🏿🤝🧑🏻For society: personalised treatments are increasing people’s health and well-being.
Innovations in the gut microbiome field have the potential to lead to significant improvements in people’s health and well-being and increased awareness of the connection between gut health and overall health.
Improved health outcomes: Gut microbiome innovations can lead to improved health outcomes for individuals suffering from a range of gastrointestinal disorders, as well as other conditions such as metabolic disorders, neurological disorders, and even cancer. As we learn more about the gut microbiome and its role in overall health, new therapies and treatments can be developed to address a wide range of health concerns.
Increased focus on preventive care: As our understanding of the gut microbiome grows, there is an increased focus on preventive care. This means taking steps to maintain a healthy gut microbiome through diet and lifestyle changes, as well as using prebiotics, probiotics, and other supplements to promote gut health. This shift towards preventive care can lead to lower healthcare costs and improved quality of life for individuals.
New opportunities for the food and pharmaceutical industries: Innovations in the gut microbiome field are also creating new opportunities for the food and pharmaceutical industries. As consumers become more aware of the importance of gut health, demand for products that support a healthy gut microbiome is likely to increase. This creates opportunities for companies to develop new products and services to meet this growing demand.
Increased awareness of the gut-brain connection: There is growing evidence to suggest that the gut microbiome plays a key role in the gut-brain connection. Innovations in the gut microbiome field can help to increase awareness of this connection and lead to new treatments for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
🔮What’s next?
The gut microbiome field is a rapidly evolving area of research, and there are many exciting innovations on the horizon. There are some areas that are likely to be the focus of future developments such as:
Personalized microbiome therapies: As our understanding of the gut microbiome becomes more sophisticated, there is increasing interest in developing personalized microbiome therapies. These therapies would be tailored to an individual's specific microbiome profile, and could be used to treat a range of conditions.
One area of research is to develop new probiotics and prebiotics that can help to restore balance to the gut microbiome. Probiotics are live bacteria that can be taken as supplements or added to food, and have been shown to have a range of health benefits, including improving digestion and reducing inflammation. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non-digestible fibers that are found in certain foods, and can help to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Another area of research looks at new microbial therapies that can be used to treat specific diseases and conditions. This could include the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which involves transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor into the gut of a patient, in order to restore balance to the gut microbiome and treat conditions such as Clostridium difficile infection.
A growing interest focuses in the use of microbial engineering and synthetic biology to develop new microbiome-based treatments involving the use of genetically engineered bacteria that can produce specific compounds or metabolites, in order to treat diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.
Microbiome-based diagnostics: The gut microbiome is a rich source of information about an individual's health status. There is growing interest in developing microbiome-based diagnostic tools that can be used to identify the presence of disease or predict disease risk to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and lead to more effective treatments.
One area of research looks to develop new tests that can analyze the gut microbiome to identify biomarkers for a range of diseases and conditions. These tests can use next-generation sequencing technologies to analyze the microbial community in the gut, and identify specific bacterial strains or microbial signatures that are associated with certain diseases.
Another area of research is focused on developing new diagnostic tools that can analyze the skin microbiome to identify biomarkers for skin disorders and conditions. This could include the use of imaging technologies, such as confocal microscopy, to analyze the skin microbiome at a microscopic level and identify specific bacterial strains or microbial signatures that are associated with certain skin disorders.
There is also growing interest in the use of microbiome-based diagnosis for other diseases and conditions, such as respiratory infections, urogenital infections, and even mental health disorders. Development of new diagnostic tests and tools that are more accurate and effective than current diagnostic methods could help identify diseases at an earlier stage, leading to better outcomes for patients.
Microbiome-based agriculture: The gut microbiome is also influenced by the food we eat. Innovations in microbiome-based agriculture could lead to the development of new crops and farming practices that promote a healthy gut microbiome.
One area of research is focused on the development of microbial inoculants, which are formulations of beneficial microorganisms that can be added to the soil to improve plant health. These microbial inoculants can include a range of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which can help to promote plant growth, increase nutrient uptake, and improve soil health.
Another area of research targets the development of biostimulants, which are substances that can be applied to plants to promote their growth and health. Biostimulants can include a range of natural substances such as plant extracts, amino acids, and humic acids, which can help to improve the soil microbiome and promote plant growth.
Microbial inoculants and biostimulants are also growing interest in the use of precision agriculture technologies to better understand the soil microbiome and how it interacts with plants. These technologies can include soil sensors, drones, and machine learning algorithms, which can help farmers to optimize their agricultural practices based on real-time data about soil health and plant growth.
Microbiome-based cosmetics: The skin microbiome is an emerging area of research, and there is growing interest in developing microbiome-based cosmetics that can promote healthy skin.
One area of research is focused on identifying the specific strains of bacteria that are beneficial for skin health, and developing products that contain these strains such as the development of probiotic-based skincare products, which contain live strains of bacteria that can help improve skin health.
Another area of research is focused on the development of prebiotic-based skincare products, which contain ingredients promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria on the skin. This could include the use of natural ingredients such as honey, which has been shown to have prebiotic properties.
In addition to probiotics and prebiotics, there is also growing interest in the use of postbiotics in skincare products. Postbiotics are the byproducts of bacterial metabolism, and have been shown to have a range of beneficial effects on the skin. Development of new skincare products that contain postbiotics could help to improve skin health and reduce the risk of skin disorders.
Microbiome-based environmental interventions:
There is growing evidence to suggest that the gut microbiome is influenced by environmental factors such as pollution and climate change.
One area of research in this field is focused on the impact of air pollution on the gut microbiome leading to a range of health problems. Innovations in this area could lead to the development of new air filtration systems that can remove harmful pollutants from the air, as well as new technologies for monitoring air quality in real-time.
Another area of research is focused on the impact of diet on the gut microbiome such as a high-fat or high-sugar diet which can alter the composition of the gut microbiome. Innovations in this area could lead to the development of new technologies for monitoring the nutritional content of food, as well as new food products that are designed to promote a healthy gut microbiome.
Finally, research in this field is also focused on the impact of lifestyle choices such as exercise and stress on the gut microbiome which can promote a healthy gut microbiome, while chronic stress can have a negative impact. Innovations in this area could lead to the development of new interventions that promote healthy lifestyle choices and improve overall gut health.
Overall, the future of gut microbiome research and innovation is likely to be focused on developing personalized therapies, diagnostic tools, and interventions that can promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve overall health and well-being.
✨ That’s all for today. Thanks for reading ! Stay tuned for our next article coming up next week with our Deeptech Insights Newsletter.
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