CJ Bioscience announced that it will present preclinical data on its novel drug candidate CJRB-201 at the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) 2025, set to take place from February 19 to 22 in Berlin, Germany. ECCO is a leading international conference in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), attracting gastroenterologists, researchers, and major pharmaceutical companies from around the world.
CJRB-201 is a microbiome-based drug candidate identified through CJ Bioscience’s AI-powered drug discovery platform, Ez-Mx, and is being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The company has selected CJRB-201 as the next drug candidate following its oncology lead asset, CJRB-101, and will present its anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action at ECCO 2025 supported by immunological analysis and preclinical animal studies.
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CJ Bioscience analyzed 500 metagenomic datasets from both IBD patients and healthy individuals and found that CJRB-201, the bacterial strain of Faecalibacterium, was significantly reduced in IBD patients compared to healthy individuals. Faecalibacterium is a key commensal bacterium in the gut, and its depletion has been closely linked to Crohn’s disease and autoimmune disorders, making it a promising therapeutic target.
Among 60 Faecalibacterium strains analyzed, CJRB-201 exhibited the strongest ability to induce regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play a critical role in mitigating immune dysregulation. In mouse models, CJRB-201 significantly improved key disease markers, including inhibition of weight loss, reduction in disease activity index, histopathological improvement, suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and improvement of colon length. Notably, CJRB-201 demonstrated comparable efficacy to an antibody-based therapy in a preclinical model while offering additional advantages in safety and oral convenience.
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A CJ Bioscience representative stated, “Current treatments for inflammatory bowel disease primarily rely on antibody therapies, which face limitations in long-term use due to their inconvenience and safety concerns. CJRB-201 offers a novel treatment approach, potentially providing antibody-like efficacy with the added benefits of a well-tolerated oral formulation.” The company also announced its plan to initiate its first-in-human study in 2026 based on the promising preclinical results.
Furthermore, CJ Bioscience is conducting research to maximize the therapeutic potential of CJRB-201 by exploring dietary fibers and mechanisms of action (MoA). The company is utilizing the SHIME (Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) system to identify dietary fibers that promote CJRB-201 colonization in the gut. Additionally, it is collaborating with Professor Jun Huh’s research team at Harvard Medical School to further elucidate CJRB-201’s MoA, aiming to overcome the limitations of existing microbiome-based therapeutics and accelerate CJRB-201’s development.
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Source – PR Newswire
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