Cobra Biologics and Novolytics Unveil Successful Development of Bacteriophages Against Bacterial Infection

Cobra Biologics Ltd and Novolytics have announced a breakthrough in the development of two Staphylococcus aureus based phage products for Phase I clinical trials with a 100 fold increase in upstream process yields.

An existing process was transferred to Cobra’s phage team and a scope of work undertaken to further develop the process in order to increase yields for the two Staphylococcus aureus based phage products.

The controlled, high yield process provides Novolytics with a clear path forward to producing suitable GMP material for human clinical trials.

The worldwide emergence of “superbugs” such as MRSA, has coincided with the virtual drying up of new antibiotic drug development. We are threatened with a return to the pre-antibiotic era when bacterial infections caused over 50% of all deaths.

Novolytics aims to lead the way in utilizing nature’s own natural antidote, bacteriophages. The company’s lead product, NOVO12, is a phage cocktail administered as a gel for topical treatment of MRSA infections.

Cobra is set to present its methodology, approach, and acquired expertise in phage manufacture at the Phages 2013 conference taking place in Oxford, UK, September 2013. For further information please visit: Phages 2013.

Peter Coleman CEO of Cobra Biologics commented: “It is very exciting to be engaged with such novel phage products and to be actively assisting pioneering companies like Novolytics to introduce ground breaking anti-infectives. The phage team has considerable experience in developing processes for such novel products and looks forward to working closely with Novolytics.”

John Hardcastle, CEO of Novolytics remarked: “Cobra is helping Novolytics to produce bacteriophage cocktails that remain therapeutically active when produced to GMP standard and on an industrial scale. This is a critical factor for successful exploitation of the exciting potential that phage therapy offers.”