Fighting Ulcerative Colitis with Synthesis Biology
Fighting Ulcerative Colitis with Synthesis Biology
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that primarily affects the mucosal layer of the colon and rectum that causes recurring pain, bleeding, and impaired quality of life for millions worldwide.
Current treatments can be expensive, invasive, and inaccessible—especially in regions where advanced biologic drugs are not covered by health insurance.
Expensive
Expensive
Biologic therapies and long-term medications are highly effective, but their costs place a heavy burden on patients and healthcare systems. Many cannot afford consistent treatment.
Invasive
Invasive
Patients often rely on colonoscopies for monitoring or even surgery when medications fail. These invasive procedures carry risks and reduce quality of life.
Inaccessible
Inaccessible
In many regions, advanced drugs are not covered by insurance or are available only in specialized centers. This leaves many patients without timely treatment.
Our goal is to change that.
We developed an single-chain antibody (scFv) targeting IL-23, inspired by existing monoclonal antibody therapies but redesigned into a smaller, engineerable format.
While our current prototype is expressed in mammalian cells for validation, our ultimate vision is to create a next-generation therapy produced and delivered by engineered Lactobacillus.
This approach could offer a more accessible, cost-effective, and patient-friendly solution for Ulcerative Colitis (UC).