US firm tests microbiome-based drug for inflammatory bowel disease

A new drug developed by a U. S. firm to treat inflammatory bowel disease has achieved initial success in the Phase I clinical trials, raising hopes to find a cure to related illnesses such as Crohn's disease.

Second Genome, the San Francisco-based pharmaceutical company working on the ground-breaking drug known as SGM-1019, began research four years ago with an exclusive focus on microbiomes, the generic name for the 100 trillion bacteria humans host in their bodies.

Microbiomes are believed to play a bigger part than previously expected in the body system, with a delicate balance that, when upset, can trigger certain inflammations and diseases.

Through SGM-1019, researchers hope to inhibit a target that triggers inflammatory bowel disease in intestines.

By Ruchi Singh

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

US firm tests microbiome-based drug for inflammatory bowel disease

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