AOBiome
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James Heywood
Hilly Thompson
David Whitlock
| Type of business | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Key people | Lenny Barshack James Heywood Hilly Thompson David Whitlock |
| URL | www |
| Current status | Active |
AOBiome is a Boston-based biotech company focused on transforming human health through products that restore ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The company is developing a novel class of therapeutics to improve skin health, hypertension, and other systemic conditions.
The company was founded in 2013 by MIT chemical engineer David Whitlock and PatientsLikeMe founder Jamie Heywood, along with co-founders Hilly Thompson and Lenny Barshack.
History
In 2001 while on a date near some horse stables, engineer David Whitlock was asked why horses roll in the dirt.[1] Not knowing the answer, he studied soil samples and hypothesized that the Nitrosomonas eutropha that he found present was a key species as these bacteria feed on ammonia and thus could provide a symbiotic ammonia processing function for horses and other vertebrates. To test this theory he suspended the bacteria in water and coated himself with them and then stopped bathing in order to give the AOB a chance to colonize his body. Whitlock has reported in national media that he has not had a shower in over 10 years, but washes his hands before eating,[2] with a number of journalists confirming that he does not smell bad as a result.[3] Whitlock has speculated, along the lines of the "hygiene hypothesis", that modern lifestyle changes such as the adoption of frequent bathing and synthetic cosmetics have led to the death of so-called "old friend" bacteria which previously performed important functions in the body.[4]
AOBiome was founded in 2013 with a mission to study the effects of AOB on the skin microbiome and overall skin health. They have since performed in-vitro studies, in-vivo studies, and two human studies in acne vulgaris, the results of which have led the company to now additionally explore systemic therapies for conditions such as hypertension.[5][6][7][8] The company has a patent covering the topical use of AOB.[9]