The EU-funded FAIR project has reached a major milestone with the start of a Phase I clinical trial for FLAMOD, an innovative therapy targeting respiratory infections.
The trial is being conducted at the Clinical Investigation Centre of the Academic Hospital of Tours, France, led by Prof. Antoine Guillon. Unlike traditional antibiotics, FLAMOD boosts the body’s own immune response and is designed to work alongside antibiotics to improve their effectiveness.
Derived from flagellin—a natural bacterial component—FLAMOD is delivered via aerosol using an Aerogen mesh nebulizer to directly stimulate lung immunity without triggering widespread inflammation.
“This is a novel approach that directly addresses the challenge of antibiotic resistance,” said Prof. Guillon, highlighting the burden of respiratory infections, which cause around 3 million deaths globally each year.
Dr. Valérie Gissot, Head of the Investigation Centre, emphasized the unique academic origins of the project: “Unlike most drug developments, FLAMOD was conceived and advanced by researchers and clinicians within academia, made possible by EU funding.”
The NEBUFLAG trial crowns five years of collaborative work under the FAIR project. Coordinator Dr. Jean-Claude Sirard praised the team’s efforts: “This marks the first human trial with nebulized flagellin. Our progress in preclinical studies, dose modeling, and trial design has been exceptional.”
The trial is expected to conclude by the end of 2026, with early results already showing promise.
