Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Deborah Balthazar
Published on 2024-02-20 09:30:35
Two years ago, Lynn Cole was in a never-ending cycle of getting recurrent blood infections. Her relentless infections were caused by a zombie-like bacteria that no antibiotic could effectively kill. Her condition was a constant source of frustration for her family, as her health continued to deteriorate while no one could ascertain the source of the infections.
Lynn’s situation took an encouraging turn in June of 2020 when her doctors decided to try an experimental phage therapy to treat her bacterial infections. This therapy was planned to involve the use of a bacteriophage, which is a virus that infects and multiplies in bacteria, eventually leading to the destruction of the bacteria. This treatment was given approval through the Food and Drug Administration and administered by doctors at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Fortunately, the therapy was successful, and within 24 hours, there were no signs of bacteria growing in Lynn’s blood. She had an opportunity to enjoy activities that she had been unable to participate in before. However, despite the initial success of the phage therapy, Lynn unfortunately passed away some months later.
Nevertheless, cases such as Lynn’s have renewed the excitement and interest in bacteriophage therapy and its potential for a much-needed remedy to combat the growth of antimicrobial drug resistance. A review on antimicrobial resistance in 2016 suggests that, by 2050, up to 10 million people could die every year due to drug-resistant bacteria. Phage therapy is increasingly gaining attention as a possible solution to this alarming challenge.
Despite being around for over 100 years, phage therapy fell out of favor with the advent of antibiotics. However, with the rising problem of antimicrobial drug resistance, there is renewed interest in phages as a potential treatment. Phages have shown promise in slaying drug-resistant bacteria, and there is a widespread effort by medical researchers and small biotech companies to address the hurdles and challenges of introducing phage therapy on a larger scale.
One of the primary obstacles for implementing phage therapy is the limited number of phages available. There are thousands of different types of phages, making it impossible to have them all on hand. However, researchers continue to work on expanding libraries of phages to effectively combat antibiotic-resistant infections. There is also an ongoing effort to streamline the process of finding the right phage for a patient as quickly as possible.
But the outcomes of phage therapy are varied and not without risks. Some patients are completely cured, while others may not respond at all. In the case of Lynn Cole, her positive response to treatment lasted for a period of six months, and she experienced an improved quality of life. However, her health eventually took a turn for the worse, and, tragically, she died in 2022. Despite the challenges encountered in Cole’s case and other patients, phage therapy is still seen as a promising treatment option.
There are ongoing efforts to address the gaps in knowledge surrounding phage therapy, as well as plans to conduct more clinical trials to determine the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. A key player in this research is the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics (IPATH), which helps to expedite the process of finding the right phage for a patient.
Additionally, biotech companies are actively involved in clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of phage therapy. Armata Pharmaceuticals, for example, has ongoing clinical trials for various phage treatments and aims to continue their research in partnership with government and private sectors.
In conclusion, phage therapy presents a promising avenue for combatting antimicrobial resistance, and research efforts continue to expand. Although there are obstacles and unknowns associated with phage therapy, there is growing optimism surrounding its potential to become a mainstream treatment for drug-resistant infections. Ongoing clinical trials and research efforts are key to establishing the safety and efficacy of phage therapy, with the ultimate goal of offering an effective antidote to the growing threat of antimicrobial drug resistance.
