The ALS Association Awards Bloom Science to Develop Novel Gut Microbiota-based Therapies for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

SAN DIEGO, March 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloom Science, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of medicines tailored for individual patients living with neurological diseases, has received a $500,000 grant from The ALS Association. Bloom is leveraging its GOLD platform (Genetically Optimized Living Drugs) in combination with strong pre-clinical data to advance a new generation of therapeutics aimed at managing microbiota, or the spectrum of bacteria that naturally populate the human gut.  This grant is made available from the Association's Lawrence and Isabelle Barnett Drug Development Program.

"What BL-001 attempts to do is to modify the microorganisms in the stomach to restore the GABA and glutamate levels that are disrupted in the brains of people living with ALS," said Kuldip Dave, Ph.D., vice president of research at The ALS Association. "It's a fascinating approach to using the body's own protective bacteria to reset dysfunctional neurotransmitters that lead to loss of motor control."

"We are witnessing incredible innovation in the field of microbiota-based therapeutics and research," said Bloom's CEO Christopher Reyes, PhD. "Disrupted neurochemical homeostasis has been hypothesized to contribute significantly to a cascade of effects leading to neuronal death in ALS. Bloom's lead program BL-001 represents a novel therapeutic opportunity; we have demonstrated in animal models an increase endogenous GABA levels to restore a balance in the homeostatic levels of glutamate and GABA. We are grateful to the ALS Association and the ALS community for their support to accelerate our efforts to realize a novel therapy for people living with this disease."

About The ALS Association

The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting ALS on every front.  By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.  For more information about The ALS Association, visit their website at www.alsa.org.

About Bloom Science

Bloom Science, a private company, is developing transformational medicines that target diseases in neurology and oncology.  Our discovery platform starts with positive clinical outcomes that elucidates novel connections between confirmed clinical outcomes, the microbiome, and critical disease pathways, to accelerate drug discovery and deliver meaningful solutions to patients in a timely manner.  www.bloomscience.com

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Cambria Fuqua
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