Phage instead of antibiotics – a new approach to cystic fibrosis therapy.

Antibiotics are often ineffective in chronic lung infections in CF, especially when Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes the respiratory tract. This bacterium has become resistant to modern antibiotics over time.

A new approach to treating CF is based on the use of phage therapy with a nebulized three-component cocktail, BX004-A, which acts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, infecting and killing the bacterium like a virus.

Nine adult CF patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization participated in the phage drug trial. Seven participants received the active three-phage drug, and two participants received a placebo.

According to the results of the tests, no one had any adverse reactions, in those participants who took the phage preparation, the number of bacteria decreased, and in two participants who took a placebo, the titer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the bacterial culture remained the same, and in some cases even increased.

There are still not enough studies, but the dynamics towards improving the condition of CF patients and reducing the titer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the bacterial culture give hope and set the stage for larger trials to ensure the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy in cystic fibrosis.

Source:
Weiner I. “Phage therapy with a nebulized cocktail of BX004-A for chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis.”