Working to unlock new treatments for IBD

Leaders in gut health testing, Brisbane-based Microba, has backed sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) through a donation of $3000 worth of sales during May to support IBD organisation Crohn’s and Colitis Australia (CCA) and the launch of a program targeted at finding relief for those with IBD in June.

Microba are pioneers in gut microbiome analysis – providing not only a home test kit and report to explain the bacteria living in a person’s gut, but also dietary suggestions to assist with improving gut health.

The new program – launched at global biotech convention, BIO, in Philadelphia in June – aims to understand IBD further and identify future ways to combat the disease.

As part of their support of those already suffering with IBD and those yet to be diagnosed, Microba donated a portion of all sales during IBD Awareness Month in May to CCA to support research efforts.

Microba CEO Blake Wills said that the leading biotech placed significant importance on assisting those with IBD to potentially see a brighter future, not only by donating to CCA but also through looking at a long-term program to build awareness and improve treatment options.

“At Microba, we have strongly supported World IBD Day and IBD Awareness Month through our donation and awareness raising, and we want to take this further by unlocking new treatments in IBD,” he said.

“So far, we have identified 21 bacterial species commonly found in healthy individuals but not detected in those with Crohn’s, and 20 in those with Ulcerative Colitis.

“Our researchers are now looking further into this data and using cutting edge science to identify bacteria, or by-products of these bacteria, that can be developed as a potential treatment to rapidly induce and maintain remission.”

Australia has one of the highest incidences of IBD worldwide, with one in every 250 Australians affected by the disease – over 80,000 people total.

Long-term management of IBD is seen as crucial and currently unmet at a medical level, making

Microba’s ability to predict IBD in patients from gut microbiome data alone with 86% accuracy key to understanding the role of these bacteria in disease progression, and developing new therapeutics and diagnostic methods.

“We are pleased to be able to support those suffering with IBD in any way that we can,” Mr Wills said.

“To be able to not only assist through a donation, but also to help sufferers long term with potential for early diagnosis and treatment options, is a key goal for us at Microba.”