SOTA: A Clinical and Microbiological Perspective on Development of Phage Therapy

Bacteriophages (phages) are the most abundant biomolecules on the surface of the earth. Phages are bacterial viruses that infect, propagate and kill bacteria. They are able to kill both MDR and non-MDR bacterial pathogens without any prejudice; therefore, a properly formulated phage cocktail would be highly effective for overcoming antimicrobial resistance in any class of bacteria. Currently, we have shown that phage are effective therapeutic antimicrobials for combating antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. We have observed successful treatments utilizing phages in many emergency investigational new drug applications (eINDs). In these cases, assessing the parameters of phage selection and synergy procedures are fundamental for ensuring the maximum efficacy during phage therapy.