butyricicoccus pullicaecorum

Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum is a butyrate-producing, anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium belonging to the phylum Firmicutes. It is being developed as a live biotherapeutic product (LBP) for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The bacterium is naturally found in the human gut, but its abundance is significantly reduced in patients with active IBD. B. pullicaecorum exerts its therapeutic effects by producing butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that serves as a primary energy source for colonocytes, enhances intestinal epithelial barrier function, and possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-12, and IL-8. Clinical development has progressed to Phase 1 trials evaluating safety and tolerability in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Other names

B. pullicaecorum