PETREL

The PETREL project addresses the need for alternative therapies to combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) pulmonary infections in patients with chronic lung diseases or in intensive care unit. PA is a dangerous, multidrug-resistant bacterium responsible for high mortality rates, even with appropriate treatment. Current antibiotic strategies often fail, leading to the need for personalized, aerosolized treatments that minimize systemic side effects and protect the lungs against PA, regardless of its resistance profile. The PETREL project aims to develop a new form of biotherapy using a living biotherapeutic product (LBP), PC103, an anaerobic strain that is well adapted to the respiratory tract, the lung being its human niche in healthy people. PC103 has shown significant promise in preclinical murine models for preventing PA lung infections, providing anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects. The project seeks to aerosolize PC103 and evaluate two delivery methods: liquid aerosols for ventilated patients and dry powder aerosols for chronic cases. The project focuses on scaling up PC103 production, preserving its viability through fermentation and drying processes. It involves a consortium of partners, including Biose Industrie for large-scale production, and research teams specializing in pulmonary microbiology (INSERM UMR1078), bioaerosol therapy (INSERM UMR1100), and spray-drying techniques (Galien Institute CNRS8612). Together, they aim to develop a stable and effective delivery system for PC103 and evaluate its potential against PA lung infection in both liquid and dry powder formulations. PETREL has the potential to revolutionize treatment options for PA lung infections by offering a tailored, lung-targeted therapy that limits systemic side effects. Preclinical data are encouraging, with the possibility of future clinical trials, positioning this project as a major innovation in respiratory biotherapies.