Amsterdam’s Advanced Microbiome Interventions bags €300K convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland

Amsterdam-based Advanced Microbiome Interventions (AMI), a healthtech startup that develops innovative drugs for type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, announced that it has received a €300K convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland. 

The Dutch startup says it will use the funds to accelerate drug development for type 1 diabetes.

Advanced Microbiome Interventions: What you need to know

Advanced Microbiome Interventions was founded in 2022 by Max Nieuwdorp and Willem M de Vos. 

They discovered that abnormalities in the gut microbiome are linked to type 1 diabetes and can be corrected with microorganism interventions.

Prof. Dr. Max Nieuwdorp is a renowned internist-endocrinologist and author of the book “We are our hormones,” based on the research conducted at AMI. He works at the Diabetes Centrum Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC.

Dr. Nieuwdorp says, “I want to give my type 1 diabetes patients perspective and prevent them from having to inject hormones such as insulin for as long as possible.”

Prof. Dr. Willem M. de Vos is a Spinoza Prize winner and a pioneer in microbiome research.

He says, “At AMI BV we are focused on what can make our microbiome and positively affect our health – this is a whole new way of drug research and development.”

The company researches and develops innovative drugs for type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases based on products made by the microbiome in healthy people.

Further analyses have shown that specific products of the microbiome have therapeutic activity in preclinical models. 

With support from the Innovation Fund North Holland, the first Proof-of-Concept study with the lead AMI product is being conducted at Amsterdam UMC. 

The results are essential for further development of new oral treatment methods for type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

The investor

The Innovation Fund North Holland is an initiative of the Province of North Holland, the University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, and Sanquin. 

The Fund supports entrepreneurs in the province of North Holland in financing innovation in the Proof-of-Concept phase by providing convertible loans. 

The Innovation Fund North Holland manages two funds – a fund for innovative startups, supported by the RVO, and a fund for academic startups, supported by ERDF. 

Wouter Keij, Fund Manager of Innovation Fund North Holland, says, “AMI B.V.’s approach is promising because it is based on what the body’s microorganisms can make themselves. A cure for type 1 diabetes would be revolutionary.”