Microbiome-based research is gaining credibility as a means to discover novel therapeutics. Now big pharmas like J&J and Pfizer are evaluating partnering opportunities in the burgeoning field – with potential therapies starting to enter the clinic – as they look to strike the appropriate balance between internal and external research.

Biogen will purchase GSK spinout Convergence to bolster its pain portfolio, while Tekmira and OnCore are merging to create a new company focused on hepatitis B. Two J&J units struck deals during the week in Alzheimer’s and gastrointestinal indications, as Lilly teamed up with Merck and Bristol for combo trials to keep its drugs relevant in the PD-1 world.

AC Immune of Switzerland will work with Janssen on a therapeutic Tau-targeted vaccine for Alzheimer’s that is in Phase Ib and which could be used in combination with beta-amyloid based approaches to maximize therapeutic responses to the disease. J&J also has licensed a pioneering microbiome drug from Vedanta.