What are “bugs as drugs?” These are live microbes used as therapies designed to help rebalance our microbiomes, offering hope against everything from antibiotic-resistant infections to chronic diseases. But working with living organisms isn’t as simple as formulating a pill. These therapies raise deep scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing challenges.
In this episode of Balancing the Future, Micah and Chai are joined by Dr. Moira Monika Schuler, Global Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Manager at Wacker Biotech. Together, they explore how our microbiomes shape human health in ways we’re only beginning to understand. From gut disorders to mood regulation and hormone balance, the microbiome is emerging as a central player in 21st-century medicine.
They dive into groundbreaking work like fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs), FDA-approved microbial therapeutics, and the race to develop safe and scalable live biotherapeutic products. But the conversation also touches on the many hurdles: ensuring consistency among living strains, developing complicated sterile delivery systems, and navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape across the U.S. and Europe.
LINKS
SOURCES
The Hidden Crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance in Contaminated Water – Balancing the Future
Antibiotics and the gut microbiome: Understanding the impact on human health – ScienceDirect
Fecal microbiota transplantation reduces amounts of antibiotic-resistance genes in patients with multidrug-resistant organisms - Biomedical.com
About C. diff – U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Harnessing the power of the microbiome for people and planet - APC Microbiome Ireland
Global Manufacturing of CAR T Cell Therapy – PubMed
Rapid Sterility Methods for CAR T-cell Therapies - PharmTech.com
ABOUT BALANCING THE FUTURE
Join Micah Schweizer and new host Chai Nussbaumer on Balancing the Future as they dive into the innovations shaping our world. From the potential of hydrogen in powering a greener planet to the rise of GLP-1s in weight loss, and the frontier of microbiome-based treatments, they explore the science that's transforming our lives.
Each episode features in-depth conversations with scientists, communicators, and thought leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. They also explore the impact these breakthroughs will have on a world in desperate need of sustainable solutions today.
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