Eligo offers a CRISPR‑based platform that delivers non‑replicative gene‑editing payloads directly to specific gut bacteria, enabling precise in‑situ modification of microbial genomes with near‑100 % efficiency. The technology can knock out disease‑associated genes, restore beneficial functions, or add therapeutic capabilities while preserving the overall microbiome, supporting both drug development and microbiome research.
Funding
$5M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
F2Founders
Product
Problem
The human microbiome contains hundreds of millions of bacterial genes that can modulate host immune responses, and the presence or absence of single bacterial genes can trigger or worsen disease. Existing therapies cannot precisely modify these microbial gene repertoires in situ, limiting the ability to treat microbiome‑driven conditions.
Solution
Eligo’s GEM (Gene Editing of the Microbiome) platform delivers CRISPR‑based gene editors directly to target bacterial populations within the gut. The system injects a non‑replicative DNA payload encoding a gene‑editing nuclease and guide RNAs, which are expressed in the bacteria to create precise nucleotide changes with near‑100 % efficiency. By editing bacterial genomes in vivo, Eligo can inactivate disease‑causing genes, restore missing beneficial functions, or add new therapeutic capabilities without disrupting the broader microbial community. This enables both mechanistic studies of microbiome‑host interactions and the development of novel therapeutics that modulate disease pathways at the genetic level.
Target Audience
Primary customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing microbiome‑targeted therapies, as well as academic researchers investigating gene‑function relationships within the human microbiome.
Features
- CRISPR‑based gene editor payload delivered in situ to specific bacterial strains
- Guide‑RNA‑directed nucleotide substitution achieving durable genomic modifications
- High editing efficiency (~100 %) while preserving non‑targeted microbes
- Modular payload capacity up to 50 kb for single genes or operons, enabling functional addition (FAME) or precise gene knock‑out (GEM)
- Sequence‑specific antimicrobial (SSAM) option for selective bacterial killing using lethal DNA breaks
- Non‑replicative DNA ensures transient expression and safety
- Platform supports both research applications (gene‑function studies) and therapeutic development