Shots:

• Collaboration is for development of novel drugs utilizing B. longum as a drug delivery carrier for in-situ Delivery and Production System (i-DPS) Technology. Astellas has option rights to further develop and commercialize the develop product
• Anaeropharma has developed APS001F- a recombinant Bifidobacterium expresses Cytosine Deaminase which converts a prodrug- 5-FC- to an anti-cancer drug- 5-FU- is currently evaluated under P-I trial in the US
• Bifidobacterium is an anaerobic- nonpathogenic bacterium existing as enteroflora in the human body. i-DPS technology is designed to deliver B. longum which expresses active molecules specifically at hypoxic disease sites

 Ref: Anaeropharma | Image: astellas