Second Genome

Second Genome is a venture-backed life-sciences research company headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Its work centers on the human microbiota—the microorganisms living in and on the human body—and the diverse genetic material they carry. The company's name reflects the concept that humans can be understood as having both a human genome and a second, highly varied collection of microbial genomes that may influence physiology, disease, and responses to treatment. The company was founded in 2010 by Corey Goodman, a venture capitalist and former Pfizer executive, and Todd DeSantis, who was identified as the company's vice president for informatics in 2019. Second Genome developed a research platform intended to identify and characterize relationships between microbial communities, microbial products, and human biological processes. The platform's purpose was to move beyond simply cataloguing microorganisms and to investigate functional interactions that could support therapeutic discovery. A central element of Second Genome's business model has been collaboration with established pharmaceutical companies. The company entered into research work with Janssen related to ulcerative colitis by 2013 and also formed a partnership with Pfizer. Publicly available descriptions do not establish the complete financial terms, clinical status, or final outcomes of all of these arrangements. These collaborations were intended to combine Second Genome's microbiome-focused discovery capabilities with the development resources of larger pharmaceutical organizations. Second Genome also pursued its own drug-discovery programs. Its first reported drug-development effort was SGM-1019, a small-molecule treatment candidate for ulcerative colitis. The detailed mechanism of action was not publicly disclosed in the referenced material. The program illustrates the company's effort to translate microbiome research into conventional pharmaceutical products rather than remaining solely a contract research or platform-technology provider. In addition to venture financing, Second Genome developed a microbial DNA-sequencing service by 2016. The service was aimed at microbial samples and provided a potential source of operating revenue alongside equity funding. The company raised an $11.5 million Series A round and a $42.6 million Series B round in 2016. These figures describe financing events rather than revenue or valuation. The company was reported to have 18 employees in 2014 and 25 in 2016, indicating a small research-oriented operating structure during its documented growth period. In 2019, Second Genome was reported to have secured a two-year Small Business Innovation Research grant in collaboration with Oregon State University. The research focused on metabolites produced by the microbiome of people with nervous-system disorders, including autism. This work expanded the company's research interests beyond inflammatory bowel disease and into the relationship between microbial chemistry and neurological conditions. Second Genome's longer-term ambition was to become a drug-development company based on discoveries from its microbiome platform. Potential competitors identified in reference material included Kaleido Biosciences, Synlogic, Kallyope, Seres Therapeutics, OpenBiome, Rebiotix, Evelo Therapeutics, and Vedanta Biosciences. The available information does not establish the company's current ownership, leadership, financing position, product approvals, or operating status, so those matters remain unconfirmed.

Second Genome was established in 2010 by Corey Goodman, a venture capitalist and former Pfizer executive, and Todd DeSantis. The company was created around the proposition that the microorganisms inhabiting the human body represent a biologically important complement to the human genome. Because microbial communities contain extensive genetic and metabolic diversity, Second Genome sought to develop methods for identifying how those communities affect human physiology and disease. The company built a research platform combining microbial sampling, DNA sequencing, informatics, and biological analysis. Its stated purpose was not only to determine which organisms are present, but also to elucidate functional relationships between the microbiota and human biological processes. This approach positioned Second Genome within the emerging microbiome-therapeutics sector, alongside companies pursuing microbial drugs, live biotherapeutics, microbiome transplants, and other methods of influencing host biology. Second Genome's strategy included partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies. By 2013, it had entered an ulcerative-colitis research agreement with Janssen. The available reference material does not specify the complete economic terms or the eventual outcome of that agreement. The company also worked with Pfizer, consistent with its strategy of using collaborations to advance microbiome research and potentially reduce the burden of later-stage pharmaceutical development. The company subsequently moved toward proprietary drug discovery. Its first reported therapeutic program was SGM-1019, a small molecule being developed for ulcerative colitis. Public descriptions did not disclose the compound's mechanism in sufficient detail to characterize its pharmacology or clinical prospects. The program represented an attempt to convert microbiome-related biological insight into a conventional drug candidate. Financing supported this development. Second Genome raised $11.5 million in a Series A round and reported a $42.6 million Series B round in 2016. These capital raises were complemented by the creation of a microbial DNA-sequencing service, which was intended to generate revenue from work on microbial samples while also extending the company's technical capabilities. Reported employment grew from 18 people in 2014 to 25 in 2016, reflecting a relatively compact organization for a biotechnology research company. By 2016, Second Genome's leadership included Peter DiLaura as president and chief executive officer. Todd DeSantis was identified as vice president for informatics in 2019. The company's research scope later broadened through a two-year SBIR grant pursued with Oregon State University. That project examined microbiome metabolites in people with nervous-system disorders, particularly autism, and indicated an interest in the chemical products of microbial communities rather than only their composition. Second Genome's long-term objective was to evolve from a research-platform business into a drug-development company. The company operated in a competitive field that included Kaleido Biosciences, Synlogic, Kallyope, Seres Therapeutics, OpenBiome, Rebiotix, Evelo Therapeutics, and Vedanta Biosciences. The available reference material does not document later clinical approvals, a public listing, an acquisition, current financing, or definitive operating status. Accordingly, the company's present condition and the ultimate fate of its programs cannot be confirmed from the supplied sources.

• 2019

  SBIR-supported microbiome-metabolite research

  [1]Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org

  Second Genome collaborated with Oregon State University on a two-year SBIR-supported study of microbiome metabolites in nervous-system disorders, including autism.

• 2016

  Series B financing and sequencing-service expansion

  [1]Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org

  Second Genome raised a reported $42.6 million Series B round and established a microbial DNA-sequencing service. Its reported workforce reached 25 employees.

• 2014

  Reported workforce reaches 18 employees

  [1]Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org

  The company was reported to have 18 employees.

• 2013

  Ulcerative-colitis research agreement with Janssen

  [1]Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org

  Second Genome entered an ulcerative-colitis research agreement with Janssen. The supplied material does not establish the agreement's full financial terms or outcome.

• 2010

  Company founded

  [1]Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org

  Corey Goodman and Todd DeSantis founded Second Genome as a microbiome-focused life-sciences research company.

A microbiome-focused life-sciences research and drug-discovery company that combines microbial sequencing, informatics, and translational biology with pharmaceutical partnerships.

• Investigational small-molecule therapeutic

  SGM-1019

  SGM-1019 was reported as Second Genome's first drug-development program. It was intended for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and represented the company's effort to translate microbiome-related research into a small-molecule medicine. The supplied reference material does not disclose the compound's detailed mechanism, development stage, clinical results, approval status, or current availability.

• Research service · 2016

  Microbial DNA-sequencing service

  Second Genome established a DNA-sequencing service aimed at microbial samples by 2016. The service supported analysis of microbial communities and provided a potential commercial revenue source alongside venture financing. The supplied material does not specify its technical specifications, pricing, customer list, or current availability.

• Life-sciences research platform

  Microbiome-host interaction platform

  The company's core platform was designed to identify and explain relationships between the human microbiota and human physiology. It incorporated microbial data, sequencing, informatics, and biological interpretation to support target discovery and therapeutic research. The platform formed the basis for partnerships, internal programs, and research projects in areas including inflammatory and neurological disease.

• 2016

  Launch of microbial DNA-sequencing serviceProduct launch

  Background

  Second Genome sought to supplement venture funding with commercial activity and to apply its microbiome-analysis capabilities to microbial samples.

  Action taken

  The company established a microbial DNA-sequencing service.

  Aftermath

  The supplied material identifies the service as a revenue supplement but does not report financial results, customer growth, or its subsequent status.

  Source

• Pursuit of a drug-development modelStrategy

  Background

  Second Genome's platform work and pharmaceutical collaborations created a path from microbiome research toward therapeutic products.

  Action taken

  The company pursued proprietary drug discovery, including the SGM-1019 ulcerative-colitis program, while continuing research partnerships.

  Aftermath

  The company's stated long-term goal was to become a drug-development company, but the supplied sources do not establish whether that goal was achieved.

  Source

1. 1Second Genomeen.wikipedia.org