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FAIR Project Reaches Key Milestone with Launch of Phase I Clinical Trial

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.

CEPR’s SAChA project: A new lease of life for influenza treatment

Anti-influenza therapeutic solutions, whether preventive or curative, are sub-optimal. Antivirals currently on the market have a very short efficacy window, which calls into question their real-life effectiveness. The innovative SAChA project provides proven curative efficacy several days after the initial influenza infection. This natural metabolite of interest simultaneously targets viral multiplication and the excessive inflammatory response. It is this dual effect that confers a crucial advantage in the treatment of serious complications of influenza, surpassing the capabilities of current treatments.   Watch the video presentation of the SAChA project here :

Launch of the NEBUFLAG study at Tours University Hospital

Today, January 28, the Nebuflag study is being launched at the CHRU in Tours, France. This is the 3rd stage of a larger research project, led by a consortium of European researchers*, and financed by European funds, notably Horizon 2020. This study is the 1st to be carried out on healthy, spontaneously breathing volunteers. One of the aims is to test the human response to the treatment currently being developed, called FLAMOD. This is a flagellin aerosol therapy for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia.Pneumonia is a type of respiratory tract infection that causes inflammation of the pulmonary alveoli – in short, it prevents breathing. Pneumonia is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide, and particularly affects children and the elderly. A major complicating factor for effective treatment is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where the bacteria responsible for pneumonia are resistant to the antibiotics normally used to treat and eliminate the infection.The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that bacterial infections due to antimicrobial resistance will become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2050. Our researchers are working hard to find effective alternative therapies. This is the challenge facing the FAIR** consortium, which is studying therapies that could be used as an alternative to antibiotic treatment of pneumonia. PODCAST HERE Our experts today are : Valérie Gissot, delegated physician, CIC clinical investigation center, CHRU Tours. Antoine Guillon, intensive care physician, Tours University Hospital, INSERM U110 Centre d’Étude des Pathologies Respiratoires. They tell us more about the NEBUFLAG study, which is being launched today at the CHRU de Tours. * Consortium members: Inserm Freie Universität Berlin, Epithelix, Aerogen, Statens Serum Institut, CHU Tours, Amsterdam UMC, Université de Lille, University of Southampton, European Respiratory Society, Inserm | Cellule Europe, Inserm Transfert **Flagellin aerosol therapy as an immunomodulatory adjunct to the antibiotic treatment of drug-resistant bacterial pneumonia (FAIR) The consortium is coordinated by Jean-Claude Sirard, Team Leader at the Lille Center for Infection and Immunity.

Announcement symposium “Epithelial cells: The conductors of inflammation” on March 15, 2025

Announcement symposium “Epithelial cells: the conductors of inflammation” 📅 Date: March 15, 2025; https://gremi.asso.fr/PGE2uk/uk_registration.htm Preliminary Program Printable Poster (A4, pdf) of the One-Day GREMI meeting Abstract deadline: January 20th, 2025 Conference site: Pasteur Institute (Paris) – Duclaux Lecture Theater (access: 205 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 15ème). At the entrance of the Pasteur Institute, your ID card will be requested.Registration payment includes lunch. Abstracts, posters (1m height x 0.70m large) and slides will be in English. Oral communications will preferably be in English or eventually in French. The poster size will be specified later. Suggested Hotel (Pasteur Institute rate, will be updated). The reservation of your room must be done directly with the hotel selected. Early reservation is recommended. Preferential rate granted to the Institut Pasteur according to the availabilities of the hotel. To take advantage of it, give the reference « Rate Institut Pasteur » when you book your room. The registration fees are 150 euros (full price) and 70 euros reduced price for the students, postdoc (<35 y/o) and ITA (technicians).For the students and technicians, in these cases a signed letter from their advisor verifying their status must be sent by email to xavier.norel@inserm.fr GREMI is a non-profit association exempted from commercial taxes, VAT non applicable

The CEPR is decked out in pink in support of #OctobreRose

« Pink October » celebrates its 31st anniversary in 2024. The event, symbolized by the pink ribbon, focuses on organized screening, in conjunction with the French National Cancer Institute. The slogan of the information and awareness campaign running throughout October is: « Stronger together! The aim of Pink October is to raise awareness and encourage breast cancer screening, with a view to reducing the number of deaths caused by this cancer.  

Discover the CEPR with the Science Festival 2024!

The CEPR was excited to take part in the Science Festival, inviting the public to discover the fascinating world of respiratory diseases. Through an open house event and a interactive stand at the Science Village, visitors of all ages had the chance to learn, explore, and engage with experts in a fun and interactive way! Précédent Suivant

A Grand Prize in France2030 iPhD national competition for CEPR!

CEPR Team 1’s SAChA project wins Grand Prize in France2030 iPhD national competition! Adeline Cezard, former PhD student and current young postdoctoral researcher with Team 1 CEPR, has won one of the Grand Prizes in the France2030 iPhD national competition! 🏆 This distinction highlights her contribution to the SAChA project, an innovative program dedicated to the development of antiviral therapies, co-funded by C-VaLo and the CATRIEM consortium.

4-year ANR funding obtained (PROJECT COORDINATION: M. Si-Tahar): Development of Succinate-based analogues and formulations against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses-induced respiratory infections – (SuccesS)

The emergence of pandemic respiratory viruses is a major concern. Those viruses include coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A viruses (IAV). There are currently no efficient drugs against coronaviruses and the efficacy of anti-IAV drugs is disputed. Vaccination should constitute the most preventive strategy. However, the intrinsic antigenic drift of IAV impairs vaccine protection. Besides, previous coronaviruses crises showed that poorly neutralizing antibodies developed after vaccination may enhance subsequent infection. Current vaccine hesitancy also remains a barrier to full population inoculation against SARS-CoV-2. Our ANR project is thus aimed to develop an innovative metabolic therapy against those two viruses, delivered via the pulmonary route, based on (i) recent evidence that metabolites are key effectors of the host antimicrobial response and (ii) our preliminary data which identified two metabolites with anti-IAV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity. source : https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-21-CE18-0061