Metagen Therapeutics and FRONTEO Launch Joint Research on Globally Watched Microbiome Drug Discovery

This joint research aims to analyze microbiome science database information using DDAIF, develop methods for exploring the functions of gut microbiota and their relationship with diseases, and verify the potential application of these findings to microbiome drug discovery.
In recent years, scientific research has increasingly clarified the relationship between the gut microbiota and human diseases, driving global progress in the development of novel microbiome-based therapies. The gut microbiota has been shown to play a role not only in gastrointestinal disorders but also in cancers and central nervous system diseases. As research advances, it is expected to enable the creation of innovative pharmaceuticals that address unmet medical needs. At the same time, the mechanisms through which gut bacteria influence disease are highly complex, underscoring the need for rapid scientific elucidation powered by AI technologies. Metagen Therapeutics and FRONTEO will combine their technologies and expertise to advance microbiome drug discovery.

■ Comment from Taku Nakahara, President & CEO, Metagen Therapeutics

“At Metagen Therapeutics, we are advancing the development of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) based medical technologies and pharmaceuticals targeting ulcerative colitis, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease.
The human intestinal tract harbors approximately 40 trillion microorganisms spanning about 1,000 species, yet much remains unknown about the specific roles of each bacterium, their relationships with various diseases, and the collective functions expressed by the gut microbiota as a whole.
Through FMT-based drug discovery and medical service initiatives, Metagen Therapeutics continuously accumulates extensive donor-related data over time. While this big data is primarily used to ensure the safety and quality management of FMT, it also holds significant potential to contribute to the advancement of science and medicine.
To gain deeper insight into the functions of the gut microbiota, it is essential to incorporate data science methodologies that have not been fully utilized to date. By combining FRONTEO’s unique AI technologies with our extensive big data, we believe there is great potential to generate substantial new value. Through this collaborative research, we aim to deepen our understanding of the gut microbiota, unlock new possibilities for its application, and create innovative solutions—beginning with improved FMT therapies – to benefit patients and society.”

■ Comment from Hiroyoshi Toyoshiba, Director / CTO, FRONTEO

“In our AI drug discovery business, FRONTEO combines its proprietary natural language processing AI, ‘KIBIT,’ with the expertise of drug discovery researchers and AI engineers to provide the DDAIF service, supporting researchers’ decision-making in drug development through the analysis of disease-related gene networks and the generation of hypotheses for target candidates.
We consider it a very exciting challenge to apply this technology to exploratory research in microbiome drug discovery. While microbiomes have recently attracted significant attention for their important roles in disease treatment and health promotion, much remains unknown.
We expect that KIBIT— which discovers unknown relationships from known facts — will make significant contributions to the advancement of microbiome drug discovery. We also hope that this joint research and the knowledge gained from it will lead to the creation of innovative medicines and improvements in patients’ quality of life.”

■ Notes:

1.    Microbiome: The totality of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) living in symbiosis with the human body.
2.    Microbiome drug discovery: Drug development based on gut microbiota science, including therapies such as fecal microbiota transplantation, bacterial formulations, and live biotherapeutics to restore or optimize the gut microbiota.
3.    Unmet medical needs: The demand for new treatments and drugs for diseases without effective therapies.
4.    Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo, R. (2016). Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body. PLoS Biol. 14, e1002533.

■ About Metagen Therapeutics, Inc.

https://www.metagentx.com/en
Metagen Therapeutics, Inc., is a biotech startup founded through collaborations with Juntendo University, Keio University, and Tokyo University of Science. The company is dedicated to creating meaningful social impact through medicine and drug discovery rooted in gut microbiota research, guided by its mission : “living up to the hopes of patients through microbiome science.” 
Leveraging its proprietary Gut Microbiome Bank as a core resource, Metagen Therapeutics operates both a Medical Service Business and a Drug Discovery Business to advance Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) as a global standard treatment. The company is currently focused on developing therapies for immune diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease), cancer, and central nervous system disorders.

■ About FRONTEO Drug Discovery AI Factory (DDAIF)  

https://lifescience.fronteousa.com/products/drug-discovery-ai-factory/

FRONTEO Drug Discovery AI Factory (DDAIF) is an AI drug discovery support service that combines KIBIT, an AI specialized in natural language processing (patented in Japan and the U.S.), with the expertise of FRONTEO's drug discovery researchers and AI engineers. By analyzing disease-related gene networks and building hypotheses about target candidates, DDAIF provides powerful support for researchers' decision-making in drug development.
This service has already been adopted by several major pharmaceutical companies and has a proven track record.

■About FRONTEO, Inc. https://www.fronteo.com/en/

FRONTEO provides its proprietary specialized AI KIBIT to support expert judgment across domains confronting social challenges. Its unique natural language processing technology (patented in Japan, the U.S., and Europe) enables fast, high-precision analysis without reliance on training data volume or computational power. Additionally, patented technology that maps (visualizes structure) analyzed information allows KIBIT to directly influence expert insights, and in recent years, KIBIT has been applied in hypothesis generation and target discovery for drug development.

To achieve the philosophy of "providing solutions that do not overlook risks and opportunities buried in records and realizing fairness in the information society," FRONTEO is promoting the social implementation of KIBIT's unique technology and AI solutions in the following areas: life science AI, risk management (business intelligence and compliance support, economic security, and legal tech AI), and DX (business intelligence and professional support).

Founded in August 2003, FRONTEO was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market (now the Growth Market) on June 26, 2007. The company has offices in Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, and holds a Type 1 Marketing License for Medical Devices as well as registration for the sale of controlled medical devices. As of March 31, 2025, FRONTEO’s capital stands at 899,176,000 yen.

*The technology used in Drug Discovery AI Factory is protected by 21 patents held by FRONTEO in Japan, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe.
**FRONTEO, KIBIT, and Drug Discovery AI Factory are trademarks or registered trademarks of FRONTEO in Japan, Europe, the U.S., and South Korea.