Holobiome: Advancing Gut Microbiome Research to Improve Human Health

Holobiome is at the forefront of mapping the intricate connections between food, the gut microbiome, and overall human health. By leveraging these insights, the company is pioneering next-generation probiotics and microbiome-targeting foods, aiming to broadly enhance well-being. Through strategic business-to-business (B2B) partnerships, Holobiome is commercializing its innovations to bring microbiome-based solutions to market.

At the heart of this effort is the “Microbiota Vault,” a comprehensive collection of all known human gut bacteria. This invaluable resource fuels Holobiome’s research, enabling precise target-directed screening and food profiling. Coupled with an extensive genome database (over 1.2 million genomes—the largest globally), human microbiome cohorts, metabolomics, and advanced AI/ML tools, the company is identifying promising assets for further development.

Focus on the Gut-Brain Axis and Key Partnerships

Holobiome’s initial focus centers on the gut-brain axis, with its lead program—a next-generation probiotic for depression—currently in manufacturing and set to enter human trials this year. Beyond depression, Holobiome is engaged in multiple high-impact partnerships:

• Unilever: This collaboration aims to develop a prebiotic for stress reduction. Within a year, Holobiome identified a promising candidate prebiotic, now undergoing a placebo-controlled human trial, with results expected in Q2 2025. A successful outcome could lead to licensing agreements and financial milestones.
• AstraZeneca: This partnership seeks to develop probiotics with analgesic properties. AstraZeneca has funded in vitro screenings, microbiome collection from a 1,000-person pain cohort, and a PhD fellowship at the University of Cambridge. The trial is projected to conclude in early 2026, with in vivo testing set to begin in Q3 2025. Positive results could lead to a high-value licensing deal.
• BAT (British American Tobacco): Holobiome conducted extensive mapping of human gut bacteria for activity on known drug targets, particularly GPCRs, with an emphasis on sleep-related applications. The project concluded in February 2025 with significant success, identifying multiple promising bacterial strains. Discussions are underway regarding potential further development or investment, pending strategic review.
• Ingredion: Holobiome and Ingredion are collaborating to map how food ingredients influence the gut microbiome and to develop postbiotics. A pilot study, completed in late 2024, successfully screened Ingredion’s ingredient panels using Holobiome’s gut simulator system. The partnership is now expanding to include larger screenings, metabolic health research, and potential human trials. Holobiome retains full data ownership, and a successful outcome could yield royalty payments and novel product commercialization.

The Future of Microbiome-Driven Health Innovations

Holobiome’s cutting-edge research and strategic partnerships position it as a leader in microbiome-based health solutions. With ongoing projects spanning depression, stress, pain, sleep, and metabolic health, the company is driving the future of probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome-targeting foods. As Holobiome continues to expand its collaborations and commercialize its discoveries, its mission to improve global health through microbiome science is rapidly becoming a reality.