The gut microbiome is essential to the health and wellbeing of companion animals, outlined the partners.
“This strategic partnership with ADM is a major accomplishment for Gnubiotics as it represents validation of our science and technology,” confirmed Yemi Adesokan, CEO and cofounder of that Swiss biotech.
Gnubiotics has been developing microbiome focused products for companion animal health and wellness over the past six years, he said. Its technology has functional and clinically demonstrated applications in that respect, he added.
By accessing ADM’s global network and reach, the CEO said the startup hopes to bring about a new standard in companion animal health. “ADM in turn will have access to a unique pipeline of clinically proven immunomodulatory technologies and microbiome focused innovation from Gnubiotics,” said Adesokan.
Animal milk oligosaccharides
Study data, according to Gnubiotics, indicates animal milk oligosaccharides (AMOs) that it manufactures help protect the microbiome of dogs from the negative effects of antibiotics.
AMOs are non-digestible carbohydrates naturally present in the milk of mammals and that contribute to the multifaceted benefits of milk; they consist of three to more building blocks bound together, combining four carbohydrates on a lactose core, said the company.
AMOs can help maintain a proper gut flora balance, supporting gut epithelial integrity in the animal, they can exert anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects as well as anti-microbial effect, keeping pathogens in check by giving competitive advantage to commensals, as per Gnubiotics data.
Mammals lack the machinery necessary to digest AMOs, thus enabling the different structures to reach the large intestine where they work in concert in shaping the microbiota in the animal’s gut, said the company.
In terms of potential collaborative R&D work with ADM, Adesokan said the partners are actively evaluating how the technology might address some of current challenges in companion animal health such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “We believe our glycopeptides have demonstrated the capability, through nutrition, to restore microbiome diversity to its original state post antibiotic treatment.”
Up to date trial results will be released in relation to those claims at the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition (AAVN) symposium in June in Austin, Texas, he said.
Biomarker research
Gnubiotics, continued the CEO, also recently announced a patent covering microbiome-based markers to predict, diagnose and treat feline obesity, a major cause of diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in felines. “The goal is to foster predictive healthcare by detecting certain conditions at the early onset, thus enabling less invasive and/or costly interventions.”
When asked whether the company would be running trials on its technology in relation to farmed animals, and marketing products in that direction, Adesokan said: “We continuously assess new opportunities for growth. We are acutely aware of the challenges that the production animal sector faces and what our effective and sustainable approach to animal health might achieve in that space. We are excited about what the future holds.”
