Glasgow-headquartered life sciences scaleup EnteroBiotix has completed a £19 million investment, one of the largest investments into a Scottish biotech company in recent years, to support one of the world’s most extensive clinical trials of microbiome drugs used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBS affects up to 1 in 10 of the global population, with up to twice as many women diagnosed compared to men, with EnteroBiotix’s EBX-102-02 drug having the potential to transform the lives of tens of millions of patients worldwide.

The Phase 2b trial involving around 300 patients has commenced, with the EBX-102-02 drug manufactured by EnteroBiotix in Scotland. Topline efficacy data from the clinical trial is expected during the second half of 2027.

The latest round was led by experienced life science investor Thairm Bio and the Scottish National Investment Bank, and participation from existing investors, with EnteroBiotix having raised in excess of £65 million of total investment since the company was founded by CEO Dr James McIlroy in 2017. McIlroy started the company while training to be a doctor after recognising the untapped therapeutic potential of the gut microbiome.

Dr James McIlroy, CEO and Founder of EnteroBiotix, said: “Our clinical data indicates that EBX-102-02 has the potential to deliver transformative outcomes for patients with IBS. Unlike conventional probiotics, which contain a limited number of strains, our therapy comprises over 400 species and is designed to restore the gut microbiome at scale. By doing so, we aim to address underlying disease biology and deliver clinically meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.”

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CEO McIlroy continued: “Our mission is to redefine the standard of care in gastrointestinal disease, improving the lives of patients with IBS while building a leading global biopharmaceutical company from our base in Scotland.”

EnteroBiotix’s clinical pipeline spans IBS, liver cirrhosis, and blood cancer. The company, which is chaired by former Merck Serono CEO Elmar Schnee, has a number of strategic partnerships and research collaborations in place, including with Imperial College London.