Finch Therapeutics

Notes

Finch Therapeutics was founded in 2013 as an outgrowth of OpenBiome, a nonprofit stool bank founded by the same team. The company pioneered the development of oral capsule-based microbiome therapeutics, with lead candidate CP101 targeting recurrent C. difficile infection (rCDI).

In 2023, the company underwent significant restructuring after the FDA approved Seres Therapeutics' VOWST (SER-109) and Ferring's REBYOTA for rCDI, leaving Finch with limited market opportunity. CP101 failed to receive FDA approval after an advisory committee vote in 2023. The company subsequently discontinued most clinical programs and reduced workforce to focus on licensing its intellectual property portfolio.

Finch went public via IPO in March 2021 on NASDAQ (ticker: FNCH) at $17 per share. The company has transitioned to a minimal operating structure focused on monetizing its extensive microbiome IP estate.

Team

• Mark Smith, Ph.D. - Co-founder (now Board member)
  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marksmithmicrobio
• James Burgess - Former CEO (departed 2023)
• Zain Kassam, M.D., MPH - Co-founder & Former Chief Medical Officer

Additional Research Findings

• Founded in 2013, spun out from OpenBiome nonprofit stool bank
• IPO in March 2021 on NASDAQ at $17 per share
• Lead candidate CP101 was oral microbiome capsule for recurrent C. difficile
• FDA advisory committee voted against CP101 approval in 2023
• Company pivoted to IP licensing model after clinical setbacks
• Extensive patent portfolio covering microbiome drug manufacturing and delivery
• Raised over $200 million across multiple funding rounds
• Key investors included Atlas Venture, Polaris Partners, and RA Capital

Sources

• Finch Therapeutics Official Website
• Finch Therapeutics LinkedIn
• SEC Filings
• Crunchbase Profile