Astellas pays to play in next-generation immuno-oncology through deal for young, privately held US venture and its novel modulation platform.

There is growing interest in the gut microbiome as a source of new therapies across a wide range of diseases. Although it is still an emerging field, pharmaceutical firms and other investors are engaging, with more expected to follow.

Advances in high-throughput screening and metagenomic data analysis have already helped uncover the microbiome’s potential as a source of new therapeutic approaches. But more new tools will be needed to further decipher it.

Anti-infective start-ups getting funded these days say they can boost the odds of clinical success, and reduce the cost of achieving it. Profiles of EnBiotix, Nosopharm, and Spero Therapeutics.