Scioto Biosciences

What Scioto Biosciences does

Scioto Biosciences, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with research operations at the Indiana Center for Biomedical Innovation. The company is developing next-generation Live Bacterial Therapeutics (LBTs) that treat disorders of the gut-brain axis and gut-barrier dysfunction through its proprietary Activated Bacterial Therapeutics (ABT) Platform. The ABT Platform leverages biofilm-forming bacteria assembled on prebiotic-loaded microparticles, enabling therapeutic bacteria to survive transit through the GI tract, persist at the intestinal mucosa, and exert durable effects via the gut-brain axis — addressing a key limitation of conventional probiotics, which require daily dosing and rarely colonize the gut.

The company's lead candidate, SB-121, is an investigational probiotic formulation that has completed a Phase Ib randomized controlled trial in pediatric and adult patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid GI symptoms. The broader pipeline, supported by a granted patent on biofilm-based probiotic delivery, extends into necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonates, C. difficile infection, irritable bowel syndrome, and oncology support indications. Scioto was founded as a partnership between Monon Bioventures and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital (Abigail Wexner Research Institute), embedding it within a network of pediatric and microbiome clinical research centers including Cincinnati Children's, NYU, Cleveland Clinic and Autism Speaks.

With 1–10 employees, no commercial products, and revenue model based on future licensing/royalties contingent on regulatory approval, Scioto is currently a venture-backed development-stage company. Capital sources disclosed include roughly $31M in cumulative funding across NIH SBIR grants, a Midwest VC syndicate round, and a $26.5M 2020 Series B led by Genome & Company, a Korean microbiome therapeutics company. Distribution of any approved product is expected to flow through standard pharmaceutical channels post-approval.

Name

Scioto Biosciences

Legal name

Scioto Biosciences, Inc.

Website

https://sciotobiosciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scioto Biosciences is a private clinical-stage biotech that develops biofilm-based Activated Bacterial Therapeutics for gut-brain axis and GI disorders. Its lead candidate SB-121 targets autism spectrum disorder, with a pipeline spanning necrotizing enterocolitis, C. difficile and related conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Bacterial Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiome Manufacturing, Formulation & Delivery Technologies (encapsulation, spores, oral delivery) (HLAAAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Probiotics (Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Components) (AFAJAKAE), Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

Keywords

• Live bacterial therapeutics
• Probiotic biofilm delivery
• Gut-brain axis therapy
• Microbiome drug development
• Clinical-stage biotech

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Live Bacterial Therapeutics (LBT) Pipeline: Scioto is a clinical-stage biotech developing probiotic formulations (SB-121) for autism spectrum disorder and necrotizing enterocolitis. No commercialized products or revenue currently; company is funded through venture capital and SBIR grants.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Scioto Biosciences develops the Activated Bacterial Therapeutics (ABT) platform, a proprietary delivery technology that enables therapeutic bacteria to persist in the gut by forming protective biofilms around microparticles. The company's lead product candidate is SB-121, an investigational probiotic formulation targeting autism spectrum disorder and associated GI disorders through gut-brain axis modulation. The pipeline also targets necrotizing enterocolitis, C. difficile infections, IBS, diabetes, and oncology support.

Product overview

Scioto Biosciences offers a platform-plus-products approach centered on its Activated Bacterial Therapeutics (ABT) Platform, which enables the delivery of live bacterial therapeutics (LBTs) using proprietary biofilm technology. The company's lead product candidate is SB-121, an investigational probiotic formulation for autism spectrum disorder. The ABT Platform serves as the core enabling technology that allows probiotics to form biofilms on microspheres for enhanced efficacy, while SB-121 represents the primary therapeutic application targeting the gut-brain axis for patients with ASD and GI disorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABT Platform: Activated Bacterial Therapeutics delivery platform enabling bacteria to persist in the gut by delivering live therapeutic bacteria in biofilm state

Products and services

• SB-121 An investigational probiotic formulation being developed for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and associated GI disorders, targeting the gut-brain axis via the ABT platform's biofilm-based delivery system. SB-121 leverages the company's Activated Bacterial Therapeutics platform to enable live therapeutic bacteria to persist in the gut, providing enhanced mucosal efficacy with single-dose treatment compared to traditional daily probiotics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase Ib clinical trial completed for SB-121 in autism spectrum disorder patients
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Monon BioventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded Scioto Biosciences in 2017 as a partnership between Monon Bioventures and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Monon Bioventures is a privately held company specializing in early-stage venture creation and management.
• The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded Scioto Biosciences in 2017 as a partnership. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital received a $2.3M Phase II SBIR grant alongside Scioto to develop novel therapy.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a key partner institution. Dr. Craig Erickson, Director of Research at The Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Cincinnati Children's, serves as a scientific advisor to Scioto.
• NEC SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. NEC Society Champions program partner for necrotizing enterocolitis research and awareness. NEC Society is a registered word mark.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Eligo Bioscience: Developer of Eligobiotics — precision microbiome medicines using engineered phage and bacterial payloads. Adjacent in the microbiome therapeutics space with comparable gut-targeted therapeutic ambitions but using a distinct (phage-based) technology platform.
• Assembly Biosciences: Biotech company developing microbiome-targeted therapies for serious diseases; notably, Scioto CFO Jim Schulz was involved in Assembly Pharmaceuticals' merger into Ventrus Biosciences, indicating an operational connection. Comparable as a small-cap microbiome therapeutics developer.

Direct peers

• Finch Therapeutics: Microbiome therapeutics company developing Full-Spectrum Microbiota and defined consortia products for C. difficile and ulcerative colitis. Directly comparable therapeutic modality and indication overlap (C. diff is in Scioto's addressed conditions).
• Seres Therapeutics: Clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company developing bacterial consortia for serious diseases including C. difficile and inflammatory conditions. Most directly comparable to Scioto as a microbiome-based therapeutic developer targeting gut-related indications, though operating at a much larger scale and later stage.
• Vedanta Biosciences: Developer of defined bacterial consortium therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases including C. difficile and inflammatory bowel disease. Closely comparable to Scioto in targeting gut microbiome-mediated disorders with rationally designed bacterial therapeutics.
• Evelo Biosciences: Clinical-stage company developing oral microbiome-based therapeutics for inflammatory diseases and oncology. Comparable as a single-strain and consortia microbiome platform developer, though targeting different specific indications.
• 4D pharma: Clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company developing single-strain Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs) for cancer, respiratory, and GI indications. Closely comparable to Scioto's Live Bacterial Therapeutics approach and platform-based development model.
• Second Genome: Clinical-stage microbiome drug discovery company identifying bacterial strains and their therapeutic products for serious diseases. Comparable microbiome therapeutic platform developing novel bacterial candidates.

Regional players

• Genome & Company: Korean microbiome therapeutics company and Scioto's Series B lead investor, developing microbiome-based oncology and immuno-oncology therapies. Comparable microbiome therapeutic focus with overlap in gut-brain axis and microbiome mechanisms, but operating primarily in Asia-Pacific markets.

Broad incumbents

• Rebiotix (Ferring Pharmaceuticals): Ferring's microbiome unit acquired Rebiotix and its lead product Rebyota for recurrent C. difficile infection, now FDA-approved. Comparable as a live bacterial therapeutic targeting gut microbiome restoration, but operating within a large specialty pharma platform post-acquisition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scioto-biosciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scioto Biosciences