Bacteriophage Therapy In The AMR Armoury

We previously reported (here) on the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and provided an analysis of patent filings over the last decade. Although we reported that much of the development was in relation to new antimicrobial compounds, we also mentioned that bacteriophages could be used to treat bacterial infections.

It was interesting, therefore, to read an article (here) reporting recent published work by BiomX, demonstrating that its phage cocktail BX004 significantly reduced bacterial levels in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

The authors used a combined experimental and computational approach to broaden bacterial strain coverage and lower the likelihood of AMR developing. Moreover, the trial showed no detrimental effects on the test subjects' gut microbiome, which is an important consideration and often a concern with conventional antibiotic treatments.