AOBiome

AOBiome
Type of businessPrivate
Founded2013
Headquarters
Cambridge, Massachusetts
,
United States
Key peopleLenny Barshack
James Heywood
Hilly Thompson
David Whitlock
URLwww.aobiome.com
Current statusActive

AOBiome is a Boston-based biotech company focused on transforming human health through products that restore ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The company is developing a novel class of therapeutics to improve skin health, hypertension, and other systemic conditions.

Company

The company was founded in 2013 by MIT chemical engineer David Whitlock and PatientsLikeMe founder Jamie Heywood, along with co-founders Hilly Thompson and Lenny Barshack.

History

In 2001 while on a date near some horse stables, engineer David Whitlock was asked why horses roll in the dirt.[1] Not knowing the answer, he studied soil samples and hypothesized that the Nitrosomonas eutropha that he found present was a key species as these bacteria feed on ammonia and thus could provide a symbiotic ammonia processing function for horses and other vertebrates. To test this theory he suspended the bacteria in water and coated himself with them and then stopped bathing in order to give the AOB a chance to colonize his body. Whitlock has reported in national media that he has not had a shower in over 10 years, but washes his hands before eating,[2] with a number of journalists confirming that he does not smell bad as a result.[3] Whitlock has speculated, along the lines of the “hygiene hypothesis”, that modern lifestyle changes such as the adoption of frequent bathing and synthetic cosmetics have led to the death of so-called “old friend” bacteria which previously performed important functions in the body.[4]

AOBiome was founded in 2013 with a mission to study the effects of AOB on the skin microbiome and overall skin health. They have since performed in-vitro studies, in-vivo studies, and two human studies in acne vulgaris, the results of which have led the company to now additionally explore systemic therapies for conditions such as hypertension.[5][6][7][8] The company has a patent covering the topical use of AOB.[9]

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are a naturally occurring type of nitrifying bacteria that metabolize the ammonia found in sweat, creating nitrite and nitric oxide.[10] AOBiome is testing the hypothesis that by increasing local and systemic nitric oxide levels, this bacteria has both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties.[11] While the therapeutic potential of nitrite and nitric oxide is widely recognized, the bacteria are sensitive to the ingredients in most modern soaps and beauty products. AOBiome's cosmetic partner Mother Dirt is therefore the first skincare company to formulate products that support the growth of healthy bacteria.

Clinical trials

AOBiome is developing topical biologics for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, specifically looking at the therapeutic properties of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. AOBiome started its Phase 2 clinical trial for adult acne in 2015. AOBiome has received attention for its prospective interventional study on the link between a bacteria-infused topical spray and hypertension. The Wall Street Journal describes that “Although the company knew when it began work on treating acne that nitric oxide has a beneficial effect on hypertension, it didn’t expect to see such a strong reduction of blood pressure in the [acne] study.”[12]

They are also looking into related therapies for allergic rhinitis and eczema (Phase I trials) as well as wound healing, migraines, and thermoregulation (preclinical trials).

References

  1. ↑ Scott, Julia (May 22, 2014). "My No-Soap, No-Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  2. ↑ "No Shower, No Problem — Just Spritz With Bacteria". NPR.org. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  3. ↑ "David Whitlock Hasn't Showered In 13 Years!". WGBH News. 2016-03-22. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  4. ↑ Whitlock, David R.; Feelisch, Martin (2009). Rook, Graham A. W. (ed.). The Hygiene Hypothesis and Darwinian Medicine. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser Basel. pp. 103–115. doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8903-1_6. ISBN 9783764389024.
  5. ↑ Gormley, Brian (2016-12-15). "AOBiome Stumbles Upon Blood-Pressure Target After Starting on Acne". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  6. ↑ "A Prospective Study of B244 Delivered as a Topical Spray to Determine Safety and Efficacy in Subjects With Elevated Blood Pressure - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov". clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  7. ↑ "Clinical Trial in Subjects With Mild to Moderate Acne Vulgaris - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov". clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  8. ↑ "A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study in Subjects With Acne Vulgaris - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov". clinicaltrials.gov. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  9. ↑ "Compositions including ammonia oxidizing bacteria to increase production of nitric oxide and nitric oxide precursors and methods of using same". 2001-08-10. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ Jones, Mitchell Lawrence; Ganopolsky, Jorge Gabriel; Labbé, Alain; Wahl, Christopher; Prakash, Satya (2010-09-01). "Antimicrobial properties of nitric oxide and its application in antimicrobial formulations and medical devices". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 88 (2): 401–407. doi:10.1007/s00253-010-2733-x. ISSN 0175-7598. PMID 20680266. S2CID 7018678.
  11. ↑ "'I don't smell!' Meet the people who have stopped washing". TheGuardian.com. 5 August 2019.
  12. ↑ Gormley, Brian (December 15, 2016). "AOBiome Stumbles Upon Blood-Pressure Target After Starting on Acne". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
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