Investment company IP Group plc (LSE: IPO) announced on Wednesday that its portfolio company Microbiotica Ltd has reported positive results from its Phase 1b first-in-human COMPOSER-1 trial of MB310 in patients with ulcerative colitis, highlighting the potential for a new non-immunosuppressive treatment modality aimed at delivering prolonged remission.

Cambridge-based Microbiotica announced on 11 February 2026 that the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 29 patients with active, mild-to-moderate disease met its primary and secondary endpoints for safety, tolerability and engraftment, while demonstrating statistically significant efficacy signals versus placebo.

Clinical remission was achieved in 63.2% of MB310-treated patients compared with 30.0% in the placebo arm. All treated patients who entered follow-up remained in sustained remission, with complete resolution of rectal bleeding. Treatment also improved histological markers of mucosal damage and reduced faecal calprotectin levels. Rapid engraftment of all eight bacterial strains was observed and maintained throughout the 12-week dosing and 12-week follow-up periods. Safety profile and withdrawal rates were comparable to placebo.

MB310 is an investigational, once-daily oral live biotherapeutic product designed to restore gut barrier integrity without immune suppression. Microbiotica plans to advance the programme into an adaptive Phase 2/3 trial in combination with anti-inflammatory and/or immune-modulatory induction agents.

IP Group plc holds an undiluted 16.7% beneficial stake in Microbiotica, valued at GBP13.9m as at 30 June 2025.

Microbiotica, spun out of the Wellcome Sanger Institute in 2016, has raised more than GBP62m in equity funding, including a GBP50m Series B in 2022, and is developing programmes in immuno-oncology and inflammatory bowel disease.