Evelo Biosciences has entered into an exclusive collaboration with Mayo Clinic investigators to advance immuno-microbiome-based therapies for cancer.

Evelo will work with Mayo Clinic to isolate and characterize cancer-associated bacteria from patient stool samples and tumor biopsies. This work will contribute to Evelo's cancer-associated bacteria library, a key platform discovery tool for the development of onco-microbials to treat cancer. Evelo will advance specific cancer-associated bacteria as therapeutics based on their ability to activate the immune system against tumors.

"We are excited to work with Mayo Clinic, a world leader in cancer research," said Dr. Brian Goodman, Evelo's head of Scientific Strategy. "Understanding how certain cancer-associated bacteria disrupt tumors is an important step toward developing new medicines for cancer."

"This collaboration supports Mayo Clinic's commitment to world leading science and the work of our investigators as we explore the cancer microbiome," said Andrea Mariani, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Mayo Clinic. "We look forward to working with Evelo and on behalf of patients everywhere who may ultimately benefit from our activities."