SNIPR Biome, a trailblazer in the development of CRISPR-Cas armed phages (CAPs) to prevent and treat bacterial infections, announced that it has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This grant will support the development of a microbiome-directed intervention aimed at improving environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) by reducing gut entero-pathogen burden in pregnant women from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

EED is a syndrome of the small intestine marked by chronic low-grade inflammation due to the presence of entero-pathogens. This condition results in poor gut health and diminished nutrient absorption, which can have severe implications for pregnant women. A deficit in nutritional intake or absorption during pregnancy can adversely affect fetal development. By specifically targeting gut entero-pathogens, SNIPR Biome aims to enhance EED outcomes and improve pregnancy health in LMICs.

The grant aims to generate CRISPR-armed phages (CAPs) from SNIPR Biome’s extensive phage library, which possesses broad and robust antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains sourced from LMIC sites. SNIPR Biome will leverage its existing CRISPR-armed phage cocktail, SNIPR001, which comprises four CAPs that broadly target E. coli, for this project.

Christian Grøndahl, CEO and Co-founder of SNIPR Biome, expressed his gratitude: “We are honored and grateful for the trust that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has placed in us. Receiving funding from the Gates Foundation is a strong endorsement of SNIPR Biome’s ability to improve global health and make our products available in both developed and developing countries.”

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