Conference Day One
Tuesday, June 24 2025

“Appreciated a good mix of new data, interesting companies, and relevant service providers”

~ Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Siolta Therapeutics

7:00 am Morning Check-In – Served with coffee + light breakfast

  • Dan Couto Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Biosciences

8:05 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • Dan Couto Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Biosciences

Securing Funding in 2025 & Mapping the Path to the Next LBP Approval

8:10 am Pioneering the Future of Microbiome Therapeutics: Assessing Clinical Progress & Outlining Market Opportunities

  • Ken Blount Chief Scientific Officer, Rebiotix Inc., a Ferring Company

Synopsis

  • Evaluating clinical progress by analysing existing approvals and late-stage clinical trial candidates
  • Unlocking new market opportunities in oncology, women’s health, and metabolic disorders while navigating pharma investment trends
  • Assessing the current progress of incorporating advanced technologies like AI-driven microbiome analysis, synthetic biology, and scalable  manufacturing to accelerate innovation

8:30 am Microbiome Products (LBP & NGP) Development & Manufacturing

9:00 am Microbiome Clinical Landscape Review

  • Ada Lam Microbiome Lead Research Analyst, Beacon Microbiome

Synopsis

  • Explore the clinical landscapes of Microbiome drug development
  • Reveal therapeutic modalities, therapy-specific properties, and disease indications gaining traction
  • Give an analysis of the commercial landscape driving the clinical development of the space

9:30 am MaaT013: The First Phase 3 Trial for Microbiome Therapy in Hemato-Oncology

Synopsis

  • Discussing the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 ARES trial for MaaT013 in patients with acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (GI-aGvHD) and its significance as the first global Phase 3 trial for a microbiome-based therapy in hemato-oncology
  • Highlighting the Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA and EMA, and the positive outcomes from the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) review.
  • Exploring the positive Phase 3 ARES results, evaluating MaaT013’s unprecedented efficacy as a third-line treatment for GI-aGvHD

10:00 am Fireside Chat: Unlocking Pharma & Investor Buy-In

Synopsis

  • Understanding the cautious approach of large pharma towards microbiome investments and the factors shaping their decisions
  • Analyzing recent strategic partnerships and investment trends to uncover what drives value in microbiome-based innovations
  • Discussing key considerations for forging successful partnerships with big pharma and aligning biotech strategies with industry needs to drive mutual growth

10:30 am Morning Break & Networking

Synopsis

Make the most of this morning networking session to reconnect with your industry and meet fellow microbiome pioneers. Use this opportunity effectively to connect with cross-industry stakeholders and form important connections for expediting your platform development

Advancing GI & Infectious Diseases Track

Revolutionize GI Therapeutics: Pioneering Late-stage Developments & Innovative Treatments for C. Difficile and GI Disorders

11:30 am Clinical Update on C. diff Candidate RBX2660

  • Ken Blount Chief Scientific Officer, Rebiotix Inc., a Ferring Company

Synopsis

  • Discussing the pivotal Phase 3 trial results of RBX2660, demonstrating its superior efficacy in reducing recurrence of Clostridioides Difficile Infection (CDI)
  • Explore the significance of FDA approval and breakthrough therapy designation for RBX2660, and its impact on accelerating the development and availability of this microbiome-based therapeutic
  • Future Directions and Applications: Examine the potential expansion of RBX2660’s use in other high-risk patient populations and the ongoing efforts to address unmet medical needs in gastrointestinal health

12:00 pm Beyond Antibiotics: Developing the Potential of Microbiome-Based Treatments

Synopsis

  • Presenting Phase 3 efficacy and safety data for MBK-01, a non-antibiotic therapy for Clostridioides difficile infection
  • Exploring real-world evidence findings and insights from the compassionate use program
  • Expanding clinical research efforts into new therapeutic areas for MBK-01

Expanding Pipelines with New Indications Track

Microbiome’s Role in Cancer Therapy: Unveiling the Gut Microbiome’s Impact on Cancer Diagnostics & Treatment Efficacy

11:30 am KAN-001, a Complex Consortium Live Biotherapeutic Product to Augment Cancer Therapy

  • Kyle Jacoby Vice President of Clinical Research, Kanvas Bio

Synopsis

  • From FMTs to LBPs: A reverse translational approach to creating an optimized and sustainable therapy to augment patients’ immune systems and response to cancer immune checkpoint therapy
  • KAN-001 optimization and preclinical testing
  • KAN-001 strains in patients: assessing existing KAN-001 strain-level clinical engraftment data de-risks development

12:00 pm Roundtable Discussion: Charting the Future of Microbiome-Driven Cancer Therapy: Integration, Innovation & Translation

  • Kyle Jacoby Vice President of Clinical Research, Kanvas Bio

Synopsis

  • Reflect on key learnings from MaaT013 and KAN-001 to evaluate what defines a clinically successful and scalable microbiome-based oncology therapy
  • Discuss the current barriers to integrating microbiome interventions with standard-of-care cancer therapies, particularly in immune-oncology and GI cancers
  • Identify priority areas for biomarker development, patient stratification, and regulatory clarity to accelerate clinical translation
  • Explore what’s needed to move from trial success to routine clinical practice—considering manufacturing, commercialization, and payer engagement

12:30 pm Lunch & Networking

Mapping Out the Microbiome & Strategies for Manufacturing Consistency, Stability & Scalability

1:30 pm A Platform for Rationally Designing and Controlled Manufacturing of Complex Consortia Products that combine the Functional Diversity and Activity of Healthy Microbiomes with Scalable, Consistent and MoA-targeted Consortia

Synopsis

  • Enabling precise identification and quantification of individual strains within complex consortia, allowing for potency assessment and process control in manufacturing
  • Addressing co-culture challenges by stabilizing microbial communities through rational product design and advanced fermentation strategies
  • Ensuring scalability, reproducibility, and quality control of high-diversity microbial therapeutics
  • Strategically integrating strain-specific mechanisms with host-microbiome interactions

2:00 pm Advancing Assay Development for Multi-Strain Live Biotherapeutic Products

Synopsis

  • The next generation of complex live biotherapeutic products demands advanced analytical approaches beyond sequencing to accurately assess potency, efficacy, and safety
  • Kanvas has developed a spatial imaging platform that provides unprecedented resolution in evaluating microbial interactions and the host-microbe interface
  • This technology enhances strain isolation, refines process development by characterizing strain-strain interactions, and enables more precise potency assays to meet evolving regulatory and clinical validation requirements

2:30 pm Advancing Assay Development for Multi-Strain Live Biotherapeutic Products

Synopsis

  • Developing assays to evaluate the potency of multi-strain LBPs
  • Key considerations for potency assay development and validation for late-stage clinical studies of LBPs

The Skin Microbiome Revolution for Advanced Dermatological Treatments

1:30 pm Exploring ENS-002: A Microbiome-Based Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis

Synopsis

  • Targeting Staphylococcus aureus by using a combination of three microbial strains to restore balance to the skin microbiome without immune suppression
  • Evaluating ENS-002’s safety and tolerability in Phase 1 clinical trials, with a focus on its impact on S. aureus abundance and atopic dermatitis symptoms
  • Anticipating Phase 2 trial results, which will provide further insights into ENS-002’s efficacy and its potential to become a transformative treatment for atopic dermatitis

2:00 pm Development of ATR-12, an Engineered Strain of S. Epidermidis, for Netherton Syndrome

Synopsis

  • Netherton syndrome is a rare, severe skin disease caused by missing LEKTI protein
  • ATR-12 is an engineered strain that delivers LEKTI to the skin to treat Netherton syndrome
  • Initial safety results of an ongoing Phase 1 clinical study of ATR-12 in adult Netherton syndrome patients

2:30 pm Advancing Topical Therapies & Harnessing Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria for Skin Health

Synopsis

  • Exploring the therapeutic mechanism of Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) in regulating inflammation and immunomodulatory activity on the skin
  • Understanding how AOB treatment supports a balanced, anti- inflammatory environment and enhances skin health
  • Phase 2 clinical results of B244, demonstrating significant reductions in pruritus, improvements in Atopic Dermatitis (AD), and strong durability of treatment effects in patients with mild-to-moderate AD and associated itch; Preparations for Phase 3

3:00 pm Afternoon Break & Scientific Poster Session

Synopsis

This is an informal session to help you connect with your peers in a relaxed atmosphere to continue forging new and beneficial relationships. With an audience of preclinical, translational, and clinical scientists eager to hear the latest advancements in Microbiome therapeutic development, you will have the opportunity to display a poster presenting your own work and innovations.

Bridging the Gap: Clinical Innovations in Microbiome Therapeutics & The Convergence of Consumer Health with Pharmaceuticals

3:30 pm Panel Discussion: Scaling Up Manufacturing for Clinical Trials of LBPs

Synopsis

  • Scaling up LBP production from preclinical to late-stage clinical trial quantities by maintaining microbial consistency, stability, and product quality at larger scales
  • Managing the supply chain and logistics for late-stage trials by ensuring reliable and timely delivery of LBPs, including temperature-sensitive storage, transportation, and distribution to multiple clinical sites
  • Navigating regulatory requirements during late-stage trials by balancing manufacturing compliance with the strict demands for clinical-grade products and preparing for commercialization

4:00 pm Development of Microbiological Examination Methods for Live Biotherapeutic Products

Synopsis

  • Complications with traditional methods
  • Existing guidance for objectionable organism testing in LBPs
  • Alternative methods for detecting and identifying objectionable organisms

4:30 pm Panel Discussion: From Consumer Success to Clinical Impact: How Direct-to-Consumer Microbiome Products Are Shaping Therapeutic Breakthroughs

Synopsis

  • Evaluating clinical trial strategies for direct-to-consumer microbiome products: costs, regulatory pathways, and scientific credibility
  • Analyzing the economic viability of trial-based models in the DTC space: profitability, investor interest, and commercialization speed
  • Navigating marketing and regulatory constraints for microbiome therapeutics in a consumer-driven landscape

5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks & End of Day 1

  • Dan Couto Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Biosciences

5:05 pm 10th Annual Microbiome Movement Awards

Synopsis

The 10th Annual Microbiome Movement Awards will celebrate groundbreaking achievements and exceptional contributions in microbiome research and therapeutics. This prestigious event highlights the innovative companies, researchers, and thought leaders driving the microbiome field forward. Through a series of award categories, the ceremony will recognize advancements in microbiome-based drug discovery, novel therapeutic applications, pioneering technologies, and leadership within the microbiome ecosystem.