Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prau)

F. prau is at the heart of the Live Biotherapeutics revolution. Before we even founded Exeliom Biosciences, our co-founders Pr. Harry Sokol and Dr. Philippe Langella, showed that Crohn’s disease-associated dysbiosis was characterized by a drastic reduction in the amount of F. prau bacterium (Figure 1). In other words, Crohn’s disease patients lack F. prau.

In 2008, Exeliom Bioscience co-founders demonstrated and published the anti-inflammatory properties of F. prau (Sokol H, et al.). Since this discovery, the therapeutic potential of F. prau has been widely confirmed by both researchers and their peers globally. Here are the conclusions we can draw:

• Low levels of F. prau is a sign of illness: (1) F. prau concentration level is decreased in patients suffering from intestinal and metabolic diseases. (2) A reduction in the bowel concentration of F. prau is associated with a higher risk of postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease. (3) Low F. prau levels have also been associated with higher relapse risks.
• Good levels of F. prau is a sign of fitness. (1) In Crohn’s Disease patients in remission, a high level of F. prau is associated with remission maintenance while a low level is associated with higher risk of clinical flare (Figure 2). (2) A high level of F. prau is associated with a better response to current treatments (Figure 3). (3) A high level of F. prau is associated with less need for surgery (Figure 4). (4) A high abundance of F. prau has never been associated with any infections or any other disease in humans.

Besides its remarkable anti-inflammatory action, F. prau is largely safe because of its commensal character and known protective capacities. It has evolved during millions of years in our guts and has never been associated with any sorts of infection whatsoever.