Ofer Haviv on microbiome
From Evogene - Edison Open House Interview · · Edison
“Biomica identified four gut microbes (BMC128) that, when given with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, significantly improved efficacy in mouse cancer models (survival rising from around 40% with the drug alone to close to 75% when mice were pretreated and dosed with BMC128), and we plan to initiate a first-in-human clinical study this year to validate BMC128 in patients who previously did not respond.”
On , Ofer Haviv, CEO at Evogene, spoke about microbiome during Evogene - Edison Open House Interview on Edison.
About Ofer Haviv
Ofer Haviv, President and CEO of Evogene, described the company's business strategy and recent developments in a June 2024 company presentation. He stated that Evogene is a publicly traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Haviv outlined the company's focus on developing life science products based on microbes, small molecules, and genetic elements, using three AI technology engines. He explained that Evogene's business strategy involves forming partnerships through licensing or collaboration with domain-specific companies to develop novel products while reducing financial and development risk. Haviv highlighted a success story involving Evogene's subsidiary, Ctera, which entered into a frame supply agreement with Eni, a major global oil and gas producer, in early 2023. Following this agreement, Ctera received purchase orders for its elite seed varieties totaling over 11 million, expected to be supplied by the end of 2024. In a 2021 interview, Haviv discussed the company's shift in business model starting in 2015, moving from helping partners develop products to developing products internally and spinning out scientist teams into separate legal entities. He also noted that Biomica, another subsidiary, identified four gut microbes (BMC128) that improved the efficacy of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in mouse cancer models, with plans to initiate a first-in-human clinical study.