Second Genome, a South San Francisco, Calif.-based developer of novel medicines through innovative microbiome science, has entered into an extensive partnership with the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine to support the development of therapeutic products for multiple disease indications, starting with inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders and colorectal cancer.

Second Genome will identify up to eight clinical indications where the microbiome has a potential role in disease and will collaborate on microbiome research with Mayo Clinic investigators who specialize in each of the designated disease areas. Mayo Clinic will provide human clinical samples from patients in targeted disease areas, and Second Genome will deploy its proprietary microbiome discovery platform to identify biological pathways implicated in disease. Further, Second Genome will utilize its platform to discover novel therapies that target these microbiome-mediated pathways.

Mayo Clinic will make an equity investment in Second Genome as part of the collaboration. Financial details have not been disclosed.

This collaboration enables Second Genome to access Mayo Clinic's clinical and research experience in retrospective and prospective studies across a range of diseases. It specifically strengthens Second Genome's current drug discovery programs in inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic disease, while supporting the company's move into new areas such as colorectal cancer.