Human health company Evolve BioSystems Inc said on Thursday that it plans to conduct a clinical study in children at risk for developing atopic dermatitis in partnership with Janssen Research & Development LLC, part of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ).

Atopic dermatitis is the most prevalent paediatric skin disorder and has been implicated in predisposing children to a range of health conditions ranging from food allergies to asthma. These individuals also have an increased risk of other conditions associated with inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis, and are at increased risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression.

The study will assess the effects of introducing a specific gut bacterium, Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (activated B. infantis EVC001, marketed as Evivo), in inhibiting the onset of atopic dermatitis in the first year of life.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel study will enrol infants who are less than 15 days old, with a genetic predisposition to allergic conditions. The participants will be given either daily single doses of a supplement with B. infantis EVC001 or a placebo for a 12-week period and then monitored for signs of atopic dermatitis, skin rash, diaper rash and itch over the next two years.

According to Evolve BioSystems, B. infantis is a critical beneficial bacteria required for proper development of the infant gut microbiome. B. infantis EVC001 transforms Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) into quickly available energy for the intestinal cells, lowering the gut pH and reducing potential pathogens by 80%.