Innovation Interview: Innovating in Antimicrobial Drug Delivery – Interview with Ana Bouchet, Co-founder of Lifesome Therapeutics

At Lifesome Therapeutics, innovation meets urgent global health needs through nanoBACTair, a project funded with €488,000 by the CDTI “Multi-Country” programme.

The project is centered on Ohmline, a lipid nanocarrier with intrinsic antimicrobial activity designed to revolutionize the treatment of bacterial respiratory infections. We had the chance to speak with Dr. Ana Bouchet, co-founder of Lifesome Therapeutics, about the groundbreaking innovation behind Ohmline, the challenges of moving from preclinical to clinical trials, and the company’s long-term vision in biotechnology and personalized medicine.

1.What would you consider to be Ohmline’s greatest innovation in the field of antimicrobial drug delivery systems?

Ohmline’s main innovation lies in its intrinsic antibiotic activity. This not only makes it the first lipid nanocarrier on the market to possess this feature but also allows us to explore whether its combination with classical antibiotics (such as amoxicillin, gentamicin, etc.), or even with new antibiotics still under development can enhance the efficacy of these substances. Clinically, this has a positive impact on patients affected by bacterial infections, because:

1 – We can achieve the desired antibiotic effect with lower doses, which translates into fewer side effects and therefore greater safety for the patient. It’s worth highlighting that our previous in vitro and in vivo toxicology studies, which we will soon validate under GLP conditions (in accordance with European regulations), indicate that Ohmline does not produce any side effects at its therapeutic concentration.

2 – We can combat the emergence of resistance to administered antibiotics, thanks to a phenomenon in microbiology known as “collateral sensitivity”—that is, when bacteria become sensitive to one antibiotic while trying to develop resistance to a different one.

2. What challenges do you anticipate in transitioning from preclinical research to clinical trials with your technology?

The main challenge that innovative small companies like Lifesome face when planning clinical trials in patients is the enormous cost involved. In this regard, we are very grateful for the grants we have received from CDTI, the State Research Agency, the Community of Madrid, and the Madri+d Foundation. Their trust in us has allowed us to launch solid R&D projects that have enabled (and continue to enable) us to explore Ohmline’s therapeutic potential both in cancer and infectious diseases.

However, in order to complete the clinical trials that will bring our treatments closer to patients, we also need to reach private investors who want to join us in fighting these and other high-impact diseases. We therefore invite anyone interested in discussing this further to email our CEO, Dr. Ana Bouchet (anabouchet@lifesometx.com) to arrange a video call or even a visit to our facilities.

3. The CDTI “Multi-Country” program requires that projects be carried out in collaboration with an international partner. Could you tell us how you identified Bac3Gel as the right partner, and how their expertise complements your research?

At Lifesome, we have experts in immunology and microbiology who have been able to validate the therapeutic effect of Ohmline in in vitro bacterial cultures. However, we are aware that results obtained from such cultures do not always translate into the same outcomes once clinical trials in patients begin. Why is that? Because human mucosae are much more complex than bacterial cultures.

Take the respiratory mucosa, for example: respiratory tract cells have extensions (called cilia) and produce large amounts of mucus that can “trap” administered compounds and prevent them from reaching the infection site. Additionally, the interaction between the drug and the respiratory microbiota or resident immune cells (e.g., alveolar macrophages) must be considered, as this will be key to resolving the infection effectively.

Therefore, we needed a more complex model that could account for—if not all—at least a significant portion of these variables. After searching among various national and international companies and research groups, we chose to contact Bac3Gel, as they offer products for a wide variety of mucosal tissues. Specifically for respiratory infections, they provide versatile products that also allow the cultivation of pathogenic and commensal species that cannot be grown using other systems.

4. What is your long-term vision for Lifesome Therapeutics?

In the long term, we aim to consolidate Lifesome Therapeutics’ position in two key markets:
We need to attract the funding required to carry out the clinical trials that will bring our therapies closer to patients.
We want researchers developing new therapeutic compounds in the fields of oncology and microbiology to become familiar with our products as a vehicle for delivering their therapies.

Many of these new therapies fail during preclinical in vivo studies because they are delivered using passive carriers that lack intrinsic anti-tumor or antibiotic activity. We can solve that problem. Therefore, we invite researchers in these areas to request a quote for the purchase of our products, or to contact us about jointly applying for R&D funding programs aimed at this purpose.

5. Can you tell us about your experience working with the Evolution Europe team on the project proposal?

We especially appreciated the team’s flexibility in offering a budget proposal tailored to the needs of startups. Also, their ability to communicate with international and multidisciplinary teams, as well as their skill in identifying possible improvements in the initial consortium and task planning.