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Addressing the Research and Development Gaps in Modern Phage Therapy
Paul E Turner1,2,3, Joana Azeredo4,5, Ed T Buurman6
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
PHAGE (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
|March 21, 2025
Summary
Phage therapy is a promising approach to combat rising antimicrobial resistance. This review explores challenges and innovations in phage R&D, aiming for accessible treatments for bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Global rise in antimicrobial resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
- Bacteriophage (phage) therapy presents a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics for treating bacterial infections.
- Significant challenges hinder the widespread R&D and clinical application of phage therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current landscape of phage therapy research and development.
- To identify and discuss key operational, epistemic, and biological challenges in phage R&D.
- To explore emerging technologies and approaches, including AI and synthetic biology, for advancing phage therapy.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of phage therapy research.
- Analysis of R&D challenges and opportunities in the context of antimicrobial drug discovery.
- Discussion of commercialization and accessibility models for phage-based therapeutics.
Main Results:
- Phage R&D faces hurdles in standardization, regulatory pathways, and understanding phage-bacteria interactions.
- Artificial intelligence and synthetic biology offer potential solutions for phage discovery, engineering, and production.
- Current antimicrobial innovation models present limitations for phage therapy development and market entry.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming R&D challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of phage therapy.
- Innovative approaches are needed to ensure equitable global access to phage-based treatments.
- Exploring alternative funding and production models is essential for sustainable phage therapy development.
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