Symbiotix Biotherapies Expands Microbiome Therapeutic IP Portfolio

Choate recently represented Symbiotix Biotherapies, Inc. (Symbiotix), a pioneering venture-backed biotechnology company developing novel molecular therapeutics derived from the human microbiome, in negotiating its exclusive license agreement with Harvard University. Under the agreement, Symbiotix gains access to a portfolio of intellectual property developed in the laboratory of Dennis Kasper, M.D., William Ellery Channing Professor of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School.

Drawing on aspects of Dr. Kaspers earlier research at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Symbiotix developed Reglemers^TM, a new class of molecular therapeutics that modulate regulatory T cell (TREG) activity, providing a new therapeutic approach to protection against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The license from Harvard now provides additional compositions and methods that may enable improvements to that approach.

Choate has represented Symbiotix since its formation, including advising on an equity financing round led by Kairos Ventures, LLC in November of 2017.

The license agreement team was led by partner Bob Licht, ongoing IP strategy for the company has been led by Dr. Brenda Herschbach Jarrell and the transactional team has been led by Brian Goldstein and Tobin Sullivan.