Microbiotica's $45M Raise: A Gut Check for IBD Treatments

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-16

Microbiotica, a British biopharma company, just announced the first close of a $45 million Series C round. That's a big deal for a company developing precision microbiome medicines. The financing was led by British Business Bank, with participation from Tencent, IP Group, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Flerie Invest, and Seventure Partners. All existing Series B investors joined in, too. So why does this matter? Microbiotica is working on a treatment for ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Their lead candidate, MB310, is an orally-dosed precision microbiome medicine. It's designed to target the gut microbiome in a very specific way. ### The Promise of MB310 In a Phase 1b study, MB310 produced statistically significant clinical remission in ulcerative colitis patients. And according to Carmine Circelli, Senior Investment Director at British Business Bank, it showed "best in disease potential with no safety issues." That's a strong signal. If Phase 2 confirms these results, MB310 could be a major breakthrough. Tim Sharpington, Microbiotica's CEO, said the funding will help push MB310 into Phase 2 trials. "We are now focused on taking MB310 into Phase 2 clinical development," he noted, "where we have an opportunity to further establish MB310 as a breakthrough treatment option for people living with ulcerative colitis." ### The Science Behind the Company Microbiotica was founded in 2016 as a spin-out from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Their platform combines a diverse microbiome culture collection, a proprietary human Reference Genome Database, advanced bioinformatics, and machine learning. When applied to clinical trial data, it can identify bacteria linked to positive outcomes in specific patient groups. That's a powerful approach. And it's attracted partnerships with major players like MSD, Cancer Research UK, Genentech, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. ### A Broader Biotech Boom Microbiotica's raise is part of a wave of European biotech investments in 2026. Here's a quick rundown: - Germany's mbiomics added $13 million to its Series A, bringing it to $32 million. - UK-based OutPost Bio raised $3.1 million for its microbiology modelling platform. - France's Bionyra Pharma secured $155 million for inflammatory disease treatments, including IBD. - Paris-based Generare raised $22 million for microbial-genome drug discovery. - London's Alchemab Therapeutics received $32 million from British Business Bank. Add it all up, and you've got roughly $225 million in new financing, or $270 million including Microbiotica's round. ### What This Means for IBD Patients Ulcerative colitis affects millions worldwide. Current treatments don't work for everyone, and some come with side effects. A precision microbiome approach could offer a new option. Dr. Sam Williams, Venture Partner at IP Group, echoed that optimism: "We have been very impressed by Microbiotica's progress... There is an important opportunity to advance Microbiotica's precision microbiome approach into a larger clinical study." Of course, Phase 2 trials are a critical hurdle. But if MB310 delivers, it could change the game for IBD treatment. And that's something worth watching. ### The Bottom Line Microbiotica's $45 million raise isn't just a win for the company—it's a sign that investors see real potential in microbiome therapeutics. For patients with ulcerative colitis, that's a hopeful development. For the biotech industry, it's another example of Europe's growing strength in life sciences. We'll be keeping an eye on MB310's progress. After all, a breakthrough in IBD treatment would be a big deal for millions of people.