Our pipeline

Our lead oncology programme and our model-guided synbiotic programme.

Lead programme · Oncology

MYCOCAN

An investigational oral live biotherapeutic for prostate cancer

Our lead programme is developing an oral live biotherapeutic based on a genetically engineered bacterium for hormone-dependent prostate cancer. The concept starts with a capsule that releases the bacterium in the intestine, where it is intended to produce therapeutic proteins supporting two complementary aims: reducing hormone-driven tumour growth and strengthening anti-tumour immune responses.

Current stage Early research and development

From an oral capsule to a dual-action therapeutic concept

Proposed mechanism of action

MYCOCAN: from an oral capsule to a proposed dual-action prostate cancer therapyA man with prostate cancer takes a capsule. It releases a genetically engineered bacterium in the intestine. The bacterium is designed to produce therapeutic proteins supporting a hormonal arm and an immune arm. Both aim to control prostate-tumour growth. This is an investigational mechanism; safety and efficacy remain to be established.1Take the capsule2Release in the gut3Produce therapeutic proteinsMan withprostate cancerSwallowedcapsuleCapsule opens; the engineeredbacterium is releasedGenetically engineered bacteriumHormonal armReduce hormone-driventumour growthImmune armSupport anti-tumourimmune responses4Combined action against prostate cancerOne oral candidate. Two complementary therapeutic aims.MYCOCAN: from an oral capsule to a proposed dual-action prostate cancer therapyA man with prostate cancer takes a capsule. It releases a genetically engineered bacterium in the intestine. The bacterium is designed to produce therapeutic proteins supporting a hormonal arm and an immune arm. Both aim to control prostate-tumour growth. This is an investigational mechanism; safety and efficacy remain to be established.1A man with prostate cancertakes the capsule2The capsule releases theengineered bacterium in the gut3Production of therapeutic proteinsHormonal armReduce hormone-driventumour growthImmune armSupport anti-tumourimmune responses4Combined action against prostate cancer
The intended sequence: oral administration → intestinal release of the engineered bacterium → production of therapeutic proteins → complementary hormonal and immune effects directed at prostate cancer. MYCOCAN is in early development; safety and anti-tumour efficacy remain to be established.

Why this indication

Hormone therapy is an established part of prostate cancer care. Some tumours continue to progress after initially responding, creating a need for approaches that can be evaluated alongside existing treatment strategies.

Prostate cancer research at the NCI

What the programme will test

Can a gut-based, protein-producing live biotherapeutic influence both hormone-related tumour biology and anti-tumour immunity? We plan to assess these two therapeutic arms alongside tumour outcomes and early tolerability, to establish whether the proposed mechanism translates into preclinical activity.

Path to preclinical proof of concept

Each milestone addresses a question that determines whether the candidate should advance.

  1. Characterise the candidate

    Establish whether its properties and biological activity support moving into preclinical evaluation.

  2. Assess activity and early tolerability

    Evaluate tumour-related outcomes and immune markers alongside early tolerability in relevant preclinical models.

  3. Make a development decision

    Review the evidence together to decide whether to advance the candidate, refine it or collect further data.

Scientific track record

The founding team has published on cancer immunotherapy, translational drug delivery and the microbiome. Elpida BioPharm took first place in the early-stage category of the 2025 Walk AUTh startup competition. Co-founder Oleksii Yaremenko placed second at Falling Walls Lab Greece 2025 with a cancer immunotherapy pitch.

Explore the team’s publicationsWalk AUTh resultsFalling Walls Lab Greece results

Partner on MYCOCAN

We welcome research collaborations and co-development discussions focused on preclinical evaluation and the next stage of development.

Discuss the programme
Metabolic health · Synbiotic programme

Microbes and fibres,
designed together for weight management

We are developing an oral synbiotic candidate that combines selected probiotic bacteria with complementary prebiotic fibres. The goal is a practical, evidence-based product for adults managing their weight.

Our approach considers the complete combination: how its components interact, how they fit the gut environment and whether their combined activity can translate into a measurable benefit. A published mathematical framework guides selection; experimental work will establish the performance of the lead formulation.

Current stage Lead formulation selected for experimental evaluation

Internal computational selection

From a defined candidate pool to one lead

Our Niche Tension Index framework informed the internal comparison of more than 5,000 bacterial–prebiotic combinations.

  1. 8Bacterial candidates considered with prebiotic options
  2. 5,000+Combinations evaluated in silico
  3. 1Lead formulation selected for further development

Candidate selection completed · Product performance to be established experimentally

From an oral combination to a biological hypothesis

Proposed programme rationale

Synbiotic development concept: bacteria and fibres, the gut ecosystem, and weight-management evaluationSelected probiotic bacteria and complementary prebiotic fibres are designed together for oral use. In the intestine, the research evaluates how they interact with the existing gut environment and support microbial activity. Experimental studies must then assess body weight and composition, metabolic outcomes and tolerability. No clinical weight-loss result is shown.1Design together2Reach the gut3Assess activity4Test the benefitProbiotic bacteriaPrebiotic fibresOralcombinationThe intestinalenvironmentMicrobial interactionsand biological activityBody weight &compositionMetabolicoutcomesTolerabilityProposed biological rationaleExperimental evaluationSynbiotic development concept: bacteria and fibres, the gut ecosystem, and weight-management evaluationSelected probiotic bacteria and complementary prebiotic fibres are designed together for oral use. In the intestine, the research evaluates how they interact with the existing gut environment and support microbial activity. Experimental studies must then assess body weight and composition, metabolic outcomes and tolerability. No clinical weight-loss result is shown.1Design bacteria and fibres togetherProbiotic bacteriaPrebiotic fibres2An oral combination reaches the gutIntestinal environmentMicrobial interactionsand biological activity3Assess weight-management potentialBody weight and compositionMetabolic outcomesTolerability
The aim is to support useful microbial activity through a deliberately paired combination of bacteria and fibres, then establish whether it produces a meaningful weight-management benefit. The selected formulation’s effects and tolerability require experimental evaluation.
Published scientific foundation

The Niche Tension Index

Our team’s Gut Microbes publication proposes the Niche Tension Index (NTI), a quantitative framework describing the balance between forces that hinder or favour probiotic establishment in the gut.

Competition, resource availability, microbial cooperation and host conditions all shape that balance. The framework helps us consider the bacteria and their supportive environment together when prioritising combinations.

Read Pechnikova et al. in Gut Microbes

Why probiotics fail: gut niche tension as the missing variable? (2026)

NTI =E − FE + F + ε
E · Exclusionary forces
Competition and barriers to establishment.
F · Facilitative forces
Supportive resources and microbial interactions.

ε is a small positive stabilising constant.

The NTI describes ecological conditions. A weight-management benefit must be demonstrated for the complete product.

Why combine bacteria and fibres?

The development hypothesis is that a supportive fibre environment and compatible bacteria may work together to sustain useful microbial activity. We therefore evaluate the complete formulation and the contribution of its components.

What would make the lead valuable?

Evidence of an added benefit from the complete combination, supported by tolerability, consistent product quality and a practical oral format. These are the questions that define the next stage of development.

Next development steps

Build the evidence for the whole product

We connect formulation development with biological evaluation and the evidence needed for a reproducible product.

  1. 01 · Product qualification

    Confirm the formulation’s performance

    Establish component compatibility, viable bacterial content, stability and batch consistency. Define a practical oral format and the quality criteria for further development.

  2. 02 · Biological evaluation

    Test the complete combination

    Assess microbial activity and tolerability. Exploratory preclinical work would compare the complete lead with appropriate controls, including the matched fibre blend, and examine body weight, body composition, food intake and relevant metabolic outcomes.

  3. 03 · Translation

    Prepare the next evidence package

    Use the findings to refine the product and plan the next development stage. Controlled human evaluation would be needed to establish a weight-management benefit; manufacturing transfer would require reproducible production and supported stability.

Co-develop the synbiotic programme

We welcome research, product-development and commercial partners who can help take the selected lead through experimental evaluation, formulation development and translation into a reproducible product.

Detailed composition and unpublished development data are reserved for confidential partner discussions.

Discuss synbiotic development

Partner with us

We welcome conversations about investment, research collaboration and co-development in both programmes.

Discuss a partnership
Elpida BioPharm P.C.

Kessanis 10, Thessaloniki 54636, Greece

VAT 802881724 · G.E.MI. 184544604000