Millions of years of
co-evolutionary biology.
Translated into precision medicine.
A new class of therapeutics — helminth-derived, human-validated, and designed for diseases that current therapies don't resolve.
The Macrobiome
Hypothesis
The hookworm is not the medicine. It is the discovery engine — the starting point for a new class of precision biologics.
Modern progress has come at an unseen biological cost
Helminths have co-evolved with humans for millennia, educating the immune system. Their removal through modern sanitation has deprived the immune system of key regulatory challenge — driving the explosion of immune-mediated disease in industrialised populations.
Macrobiome has identified and expressed 90+ secretome proteins from the human hookworm Necator americanus, screening for anti-inflammatory activity. 20 proteins have demonstrated significant protection in colitis models, and two lead candidates are advancing through pre-clinical development.
Clinical Pipeline
Originating from the
Tropical North of Australia
Macrobiome Therapeutics was founded in 2020 by Professor Alex Loukas and Dr Paul Giacomin of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University in Cairns, Queensland.
An Australian pre-clinical biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics for immune-mediated disease — inspired by millions of years of co-evolution between humans and helminths.
Pioneering a new class of therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Our approach restores immune balance by acting upstream of key inflammatory mediators
Our proprietary discovery platform has delivered lead candidates MBT-001 and MBT-002
The People
Behind the Science
Our team brings together leading researchers in immunoparasitology, drug development, and biotechnology commercialisation.
Our Investors & Partners
Main Sequence
Australia's preeminent deep tech venture fund, backed by CSIRO. Main Sequence backs science-driven founders building transformative technologies from breakthrough research — investing at the intersection of science and commercial scale.
Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
One of Japan's leading pharmaceutical groups with over a century of heritage, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. focuses on research-driven drug discovery, advancing innovative therapies through in-house R&D and collaboration with global partners, including next-generation modalities such as VHH antibodies.
Edale Capital
A specialist investment firm with a focus on life sciences and emerging healthcare. Edale backs companies at the frontier of scientific discovery with high unmet medical need and differentiated mechanisms of action.
James Cook University Australia
A globally recognised research university and founding institutional partner. JCU's world-leading tropical biology and immunology programmes have been foundational to Macrobiome's scientific discovery and early-stage development.
AusIndustry CRC Program
The Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program supports collaborative industry–research partnerships solving real-world challenges. CRC Program funding enabled Macrobiome's foundational translational research and platform development.
Tegmen Medical Research Impact Fund
An impact investment fund dedicated to accelerating medical research with real-world health and commercial potential. Tegmen partners with early-stage biotech companies demonstrating rigorous science and credible paths to patient benefit.
Ready to Advance
Human Health?
Whether you're a potential partner, investor, or collaborating institution — our team would like to hear from you.
Get in Touch