ROSEVILLE, Minn., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has named Rebiotix as the recipient of the 2015 Tekne Award in the Small and Growing Healthcare award category. Held November 18th at the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Tekne Awards honor companies and individuals who have played a significant role in developing new technologies that positively impact the lives and futures of people living around the world.

Rebiotix is pioneering Microbiota Restoration Therapy (MRT) for delivering live microbes into a sick patient's intestinal tract to treat disease. The lead product, RBX2660 (microbiota suspension), is being studied for the treatment of the debilitating intestinal infection known as Clostridium difficile infection (C. diff.), an infection that is facilitated by antibiotic use. Antibiotic resistance is a major cause of concern in the U.S. healthcare setting. In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 29,000 deaths annually from the disease.i With 20-30% of patients with C. diff. experiencing more than one episode of the disease, new therapies beyond antibiotics are urgently needed.ii

"We are honored to receive this award and recognition for our work in a rapidly developing category of the microbiome," said Rebiotix CEO Lee Jones. "We will continue on our path with this disruptive technology to help patients with debilitating gastrointestinal diseases return to a more healthy and normal function."

Tekne Awards were presented to 15 of Minnesota's most influential companies and recognized innovations in education technology, energy, healthcare, software, workforce development, manufacturing, agriculture, cyber security, and information technology.

"Technology is responsible for some of the most monumental changes in society today, and Minnesota continues to contribute to these advancements," said Margaret Anderson Kelliher, president and CEO of MHTA. "We are pleased to recognize Rebiotix Inc. for its proven leadership and commitment to science and technology innovation in Minnesota."

This year's Tekne Awards ceremony was emceed by Amelia Santaniello.  A list of 2015 Tekne Award recipients and finalists is available online at http://www.tekneawards.org.

About Rebiotix, Inc.

Rebiotix Inc. is a results-oriented biotechnology company revolutionizing the treatment of challenging diseases by harnessing the power of the human microbiome. The Roseville, Minn. based company is pioneering Microbiota Restoration Therapy (MRT) for delivering live microbes into a sick patient's intestinal tract to treat disease. Rebiotix's lead candidate RBX2660 was granted Orphan Drug status, Fast Track status and Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for its potential that it may treat recurrent C. diff. infection. For more information, visit www.rebiotix.com.

About Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA)

MHTA is an innovation and technology association united in fueling Minnesota's prosperity. We help bring together the people of Minnesota's technology ecosystem and lead the charge in directing technology issues to Minnesota's state capitol. MHTA is the only membership organization that represents Minnesota's entire technology-based economy. MHTA members include organizations of every size − involved in virtually every aspect of technology creation, production, application and education in Minnesota. Find out more online at http://www.mhta.org or follow MHTA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MHTA.

i Lessa FC et al. Burden of Clostridium difficile Infection in the United States. NEJM. 2015. 372:825-834.

ii Cornely OA, Miller MA, Louie TJ, Crook DW, Gorbach SL. Treatment of first recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection: fidaxomicin versus vancomycin. CID 2012;55 .(Suppl 2):S154-S161.

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SOURCE Rebiotix Inc.