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

Golden Gate method enables rapid, fully-synthetic engineering of therapeutically relevant bacteriophages Simplified bacteriophage design and synthesis to propel long-obstructed bacteriophage research in new PNAS study from New England Biolabs® and Yale University                   Bacteriophages have been used therapeutically to treat infectious bacterial diseases for over a century. As antibiotic-resistant infections increasingly threaten public health, interest in bacteriophages as therapeutics has seen a resurgence. However, the field remains largely limited to naturally occurring strains, as laborious strain engineering techniques have limited the pace of discovery and the creation of tailored therapeutic strains. Now, researchers from New England Biolabs (NEB®) and Yale University describe the first fully synthetic bacteriophage engineering system for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an antibiotic-resistant bacterium of global concern, in a ...

NexaBiome accelerates development of novel diabetic foot treatment with Scottish Enterprise funding UK biotechnology company NexaBiome Life Sciences Ltd has received continued funding from Scotland's national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, to accelerate its breakthrough bacteriophage technology for the treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFIs). The funding is the second tranche of support in a £125k project to support the development of a stable, room-temperature wound dressing aimed at treating DFIs, a severe complication of diabetes that has been exacerbated by drug-resistant bacteria and which can lead to amputation or death. The grant supports NexaBiome’s commitment to developing alternative medicines to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dr. Jason Clark, Chief Executive Officer at NexaBiome, said: “We’re grateful for Scottish Enterprise’s ongoing support. This will help accelerate the development of our formulation for DFIs, which has the potential to...

Armata to advance bacteriophage therapy to phase 3 for S. aureus LOS ANGELES - Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American:ARMP) announced Tuesday that the FDA has agreed that data from its Phase 2a diSArm study support advancement of AP-SA02 to Phase 3 clinical testing for complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The biotech company, currently valued at $238.47 million, has seen its stock surge over 230% in the past year, trading at $6.68 as investors react to its clinical progress. According to  InvestingPro  data, analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus on the stock with price targets ranging from $9 to $15. The company plans to initiate the Phase 3 superiority study in the second half of 2026, following the FDA’s End-of-Phase 2 written response. The regulatory agency provided guidance on key elements of the study design, which will assess AP-SA02’s effectiveness compared to current standard of care treatments. "The completion of our Phase 2a diSArm was the first evid...

  $3.3M to Fund Trial of Ai-Designed Bacteriophage Therapy for HAP/VAP Locus Biosciences will conduct a clinical trial for its Ai-designed bacteriophage therapeutic for HAP/VAP caused by antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa. RT’s Three Key Takeaways: Federal support for phage therapy  – Locus Biosciences received a $3.3 million NIAID contract, with potential expansion to $28 million, to advance a Phase 1b clinical trial of its engineered bacteriophage LBP-PA01 for antibiotic-resistant  Pseudomonas aeruginosa  pneumonia. AI-designed precision antibacterial  – LBP-PA01 was developed using Locus’s AI- and robotics-driven platform, which rapidly designs and optimizes engineered bacteriophage cocktails to selectively kill drug-resistant bacteria. Addressing a critical public health threat  – The program targets hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia, major ICU killers for which antibiotic-resistant  P. aeruginosa  is a CDC-designated ...

Otago researchers aiming to develop phage therapy University of Otago biomedical sciences researchers Prof Peter Fineran (left) and Dr Robert Fagerlund are hoping their studies into phages will one day help in the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/NILS BIRKHOLZ Not many research projects come with a cherry on top. But this one does. University of Otago biomedical sciences researchers Prof Peter Fineran and Dr Robert Fagerlund are studying bacteriophages — tiny viruses that naturally hunt and kill bacteria — in the hope of turning the microscopic assassins into a powerful tool to fight bacterial diseases. As part of their bid to develop phage therapy for humans, they are tackling bacterial diseases that plague New Zealand’s cherry orchards; and the cherry on top is that the project has received funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to do it. "We have interacted with a number of Otago orchards to collect phage s...

Bacteriophage technology could reduce Salmonella in poultry Viruses that kill specific bacteria, known as bacteriophages, are emerging as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry production. Paul Ward | WATT Global Media A platform that creates custom phage cocktails targeting  Salmonella  bacteria could help producers reduce disease in poultry flocks. According to Hans Pieringer, CEO,  PhageLab , the technology company created an algorithm that evaluates the genome of the bacteria to identify small differences and understand specific serotypes,  antibiotic resistance  and pathology, which helps create tailored solutions for producers. Antibiotics  may kill beneficial and harmful bacteria; however, the phage technology is able to only target specific pathogenic strains while preserving gut health. The technology helps address antimicrobial resistance and offers a targeted approach that maintains flock health without contributing to resistance problems, he s...

Limitations, Risks, and Future Perspectives of Engineered Bacteriophages in Targeted Radiotherapy The advent of engineered bacteriophages for targeted radiotherapy represents a significant paradigm shift in cancer treatment. These viral vectors offer the potential for highly specific delivery of therapeutic payloads, such as radioisotopes, directly to tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. Despite these advantages, several limitations and potential risks must be carefully considered to fully understand their clinical applicability. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the biological, technical, and clinical constraints of engineered phages, while highlighting emerging opportunities for future therapeutic integration. Theranostics  2011; 1:371-380. doi:10.7150/thno/v01p0371 Immunogenicity and Host Response One of the foremost biological limitations of engineered bacteriophages is their immunogenicity . While bacteriophages naturally infect bacteria and are non-pa...