Microbiome specialist Optibiotix PLC (LON:OPTI) has seen a marked increase in cholesterol lowering product LP-LDL from ‘big pharma’ after another high profile development failure.
Merck pulled the plug on its cholesterol lowering drug Anacetrapib last week after disappointing trial results.
Pfizer had already scrapped a similar protein inhibiting product, bococizumab in December, while Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly have all suffered disappointments in this area.
Stephen O’Hara, Optibiotix’s chief executive, said the failures of these drugs had sparked interest in a possible combination with LP-LDL its own natural cholesterol reducing product.
The problems with these failings in high cost drug development is that it limits the therapeutic options, he told Proactive.
“This is increasing pharma’s interest in safe proven natural alternatives like LP-LDL to supplement and extent the patent life of existing drugs with combination therapies.“
Optibiotix had seen big pharma interest “build” over the past 3-4 months following Pfizer’s move and he expects this to grow as “The interface between food and pharmaceuticals narrows.”
A food additive, LP-LDL‘s efficacy is at a similar level to pharmaceutical products but with fewer side effects.
Any collaboration would likely take the form of a licensing/joint venture deal.
Anecdotally, LP-LDL is also showing good efficacy in reducing blood pressure as well as lowering cholesterol, said O’Hara.
One example, on the Optibiotix website, cites a person in their fifties who saw their blood pressure reduce more by using LP-LDL than through the ACE Inhibitor they had been prescribed. ACE Inhibitors are drugs designed to lower blood pressure by reducing angiotensin II in the body.
While this was only one person, O’Hara added that its own research had indicated a similar group effect on blood pressure and cholesterol across a much wider population (young, old, men and women,) and in much higher population numbers.
“It also shows the higher the blood pressure or cholesterol the greater the effect so the benefits are greatest in those most in need. “
A noticeable beneficial effect on hypertension (high blood pressure) would be a significant differentiator for LP-LDL, O’Hara said, and if possible it will try to find a partner to carry out further clinical studies.
OptiBiotix has been a pioneer of products based around the human microbiome, which is essentially the bacteria that inhabits the gut and skin.
Small changes to the gut flora can affect the way the human body processes food and that had led to a range of products being developed by the company that are now approaching the commercial stage.
The strategy so far has been to find commercial rather than research partners.
A memorandum of understanding has already been signed with Bened to explore opportunities to combine LP-LDL with the Taiwanese firm’s PS128, a psycho-biotic that has shown encouraging results in reducing anxiety and depression in animal studies.
Industry leaders Tata Chemical and pro-biotics specialist Sacco have also all recently agreed deals for a variety of Optibiotix’s products.
Tata’s deal was for appetite suppressant Slimbiome. A new version of the flour-like weight loss additive was launched in the US at Las Vegas last month.