The future of phage therapy in the USA

Abstract

Fueled by the increasing abundance of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, there has been a resurrection in the use of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages or 'phage') for therapeutic applications. Phage therapy was used in the early 20th century to limited success, which we attribute to its haphazard employment. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, this Opinion first evaluates the historical reasons for the failure of phage therapy, analyzes the current state of the field, and ultimately makes recommendations for how to proceed with contemporary phage therapy. Despite many advances in phage biology, crucial gaps in our knowledge persist. Our recommendations require physicians, scientists, and public-policy leaders to cooperate to bridge the outstanding gaps around phage therapy to develop phage into a useful therapeutic tool.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; bacteriophage; clinical trials; government regulation; personalized medicine; phage therapy.