Production of Phage Therapeutics and Formulations: Innovative Approaches

The global health threat posed by the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of phage therapy for public healthcare. A future phage industry requires underpinning research to support scalable cost-effective manufacturing processes for the production of phage products as well as development of stable pharmaceutical formulations including consideration of aspects related to controlled release and targeted delivery to meet the needs of infectious disease management. Successful phage therapy clinical trials leading to regulatory approval will accelerate the need for product differentiation and innovation. Here we outline innovative approaches relevant to the manufacturing of phage therapeutics, including pharmaceutical formulations suitable for applications related to diverse fields including veterinary and clinical medicine, rapid diagnostics, food safety and biocontrol. We also evaluate the potential benefits of the introduction of synthetic biology approaches in the production of phage therapeutics.