Pfizer, Mainz Biomed And Roche Are Determined To Move The Needle In Gastroenterological Innovation

Many scientists claim that the future of medicine is in the gut. What is certain is that the future of medical treatments will be personalized and knowing more about one’s gut plays a big part in that approach as our gut microbiome is as unique to every individual as our fingerprints. Although modern science is still lacking many answers as microbiome research is still young, scientists did confirm that the microbiome is always a component of chronic diseases and an important contributor, if not the inciting factor.

Microbiome research includes studying the role of bacteria, fungi and viruses in disease states including cancer, obesity, Alzheimer’s and everything in between. The gut microbiome is highly dynamic, but more importantly, it is always reflective of a patient’s current state and history. The good news is that, unlike our genes, we have the power to change its composition, so this medical approach holds a great promise of prevention and improvement in treatments. Therefore, it is no wonder that pharmaceutical companies, both big and small, are going after their piece of the pie. 

Pfizer Is Doing Its Best To Make Its Mark In Gastroenterological Innovation

Although its twice-daily weight loss pill was a flop due to side-effects, Pfizer Inc PFE did achieve a small win earlier in October when it gained the approval from the FDA for its oral pill for ulcerative colitis. 

Pfizer Is Going Against A Notoriously Difficult Disease

Ulcerative colitis is quite a challenge for Pfizer as this chronic illness has no cure, and therefore needs to be targetedwith multiple therapies to be kept at bay. Ulcerative colitis affects about 1.25 million people in the United Statesalone. Pfizer designed a steroid-free oral medication to treat adults with this condition which is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. IBD belong to a group of chronic gastrointestinal disorders that affect about 8 million people across the globe and 80% of all individuals not experiencing lasting remission.

Pfizer differentiated Velsipity (etrasimod) as a once a daily pill while the existing treatment involves an injection. Pfizer developed a treatment that will be especially welcomed for those who are not ready for biologic drugs which are given as injections or infusions.

Even Roche Turned To Gastroenterology To Restore Its Battered Drug Development

Also in October, Switzerland's Roche Holding AG RHHBY has agreed to pay an initial $7.1 billion to Pfizer and Roivant for rights to a new inflammatory bowel disease drug. After last year’s major late-stage trial setbacks in Alzheimer's and cancer immunotherapy, Roche went after Telavant Holdings, a vehicle in which Roivant and Pfizer have placed the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize an experimental drug, RVT-3101, in the United States and Japan. In another effort to shrug off its falling oncology sales, Roche also joined the race for obesity drugs earlier in December by acquiring obesity drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Mainz Biomed Is Set To Advance CRC Diagnostics

Mainz Biomed N.V. MYNZ, a molecular genetics diagnostic company specializing in the early detection of cancer, just announced its active participation at two significant gastroenterology conferences in Poland, alongsideits Polish partner TestDNA.

The first attended conference, the 17th Conference: Advances in Gastroenterology, took place from December 8th to 9th, 2023, in Poznań. Together, Mainz Biomed and TestDNA showcased ColoAlert®, which is a highly effective and user-friendly at-home detection test for colorectal cancer, providing valuable insights from the field of diagnostic innovation gathered from their clinical studies. Mainz Biomed will be taking part in the 10th Gdańsk Gastroenterology Symposium which is scheduled for January 12th to 13th, 2024. Mainz Biomed will be presenting its mission to fight for early detection of CRC with which it promises to revolutionize CRC detection and improve patient outcomes. Poland represents a significant market opportunity for the company’s flagship product as with over 21 million people aged over 40, especially considering that there has been a low level of national participation in CRC screening which traditionally has been colonoscopies.

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