Reinventing the fight against bacteria, one phage at a time.

The Soviet and Eastern Bloc Phage Research: Consolidation and Clinical Applications (1945–1990) A Distinct Path: Phage Therapy in the Eastern Bloc While phage therapy was largely marginalized in Western countries following World War II, the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe pursued a remarkably different trajectory. From 1945 through the late 1980s, phage therapy was actively researched, refined, and integrated into medical practice across the Eastern Bloc, particularly within the Soviet Union and the Republic of Georgia. This period witnessed the consolidation of dedicated research institutes and clinical centers, which established phage therapy as a credible and routinely used treatment option for bacterial infections in these regions. Taken from :  https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-319-40598-8_12-1 The Eliava Institute: The Epicenter of Soviet Phage Research The cornerstone of Soviet phage research was the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage...

Following a public petition, Infarmed approves the use of phage therapy in Portugal It is the third European country to give the green light to this treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. On Saturday, November 23, the National Medicines Authority (Infarmed) approved the use of phage therapy. Portugal thus becomes the third European country, after Belgium and France, to define rules for the use of bacteriophages to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.  The approval follows a petition created on August 2, 2023, which was signed by more than eight thousand people, enough to bring the proposal to the Assembly of the Republic for discussion. The petition called for the implementation of the Belgian model of phage therapy, given that Portugal has one of the highest prevalence rates of antibiotic-resistant infections in Europe. The problem isn't new and has been worsening, hence the focus on alternatives such as phage therapy. This involves the use of bacteriophages, also known ...

  AMR Action Fund: Changing our approach to antibiotics 9th July 2025 © shutterstock/PeopleImages.com - Yuri A Henry Skinner, PhD, CEO of the  AMR Action Fund , illustrates the true picture of the threat of AMR and explains how the Fund is working to change the way society values antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is evolving at a rapid pace and is becoming not only an increasing global health threat, but also has the potential to be a major economic burden. With this said, it is more important than ever for organisations, governments, and innovators across the globe to focus efforts and work collaboratively to eradicate the threat. Headquartered in the US, the AMR Action Fund is the world’s largest venture capital fund dedicated to investing in antimicrobial therapeutics. The Fund is designed to support companies developing potentially lifesaving antimicrobial therapeutics and was launched following conversations with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Ma...

CUHK develops new virus-based nanofibre technology to enhance cancer treatment 8 Jul 2025 P Professor Mao Chuanbin A research team led by  Professor Mao Chuanbin , Director of JC STEM Lab of Nature-inspired Precision Medical Engineering and Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has developed an innovative cancer treatment – a phage-based nanofibre technology. This technology can precisely target and kill cancer cells. It also overcomes the limitation of low oxygen levels in tumours that hinder the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Research findings have been published in the international journal  Advanced Materials . Currently, PDT is a widely used and highly effective minimally invasive cancer treatment that destroy cancer cells by light-activated drugs called “photosensitiser”. However, PDT can be scattershot and its effectiveness is often hindered by hypoxia, a common condition in tumours where oxyge...

Bacteriophage Symphony: Engineering Phages as Live Biocomputers to Reprogram Microbial Communities Harvard Undergraduate Microbiology Society Looking at the micro-world under the magnifying lens, bacteriophages (specialized viruses that hunt bacteria) act like microbial grim reapers. But now, a new mindset in synthetic biology is reimaging their potential: why not use phages as living biocomputers, in addition to their role as precise, targeted snipers against germs, capable of hacking the genetic code of entire bacterial populations? Well, beyond killing harmful bugs, “programmable” phages might convert disease-causing bacteria to beneficial bacteria or even direct whole microbiomes, like an orchestra conductor. That precision turns traditional phage therapy upside-down. Phages have long been considered a last resort in fighting antibiotic-resistant infections, but now, researchers are creating specialized tools to reprogram bacteria rather than just destroy them. Genetic circuits–ess...

  BiomX Announces Publication in Nature Communications of Phage Cocktail BX004 Phase 1b/2a Part 1 Data Demonstrating Strong Activity in Cystic Fibrosis July 08, 2025 8:30am EDT Premier research journal article provides validation for BiomX’s phage therapy platform, showcasing first-in-human Phase 1b/2a trial results for antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa infections New, updated data demonstrates a further bacteria reduction of 2.7 log₁₀ (approximately 500-fold) compared to placebo, with no emergent resistance and preservation of a healthy microbiome BiomX is advancing its Phase 2b trial of BX004 with topline results expected Q1 2026 NESS ZIONA, Israel, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BiomX Inc. (NYSE American: PHGE) (“BiomX” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage company advancing novel natural and engineered phage therapies that target specific pathogenic bacteria, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article in  Nature Communications  titled, “Phage therapy...