Phage Therapy for Antibiotic Resistance Infections

Speciality

Urology Treatments, Gynaecology, Respiratory Conditions, Nose & Throat, Gastrointestinal Infections, Dermatology, Paediatric Care, Surgical & Hospital-Acquired Infections

Table of Contents

How Much Does Phage Therapy Cost in India?

The cost of phage therapy treatment in India is EUR 2100 (approx. INR 2 lac) for one full course of treatment, which typically lasts for 10-12 weeks.

Inclusions: Cost of standard phage medicines targeting the bacterial pathogens causing the patient’s infection; phage treatment plan and dosage details; video telemedicine and email consultations with specialist doctors; and courier charges for sending the phage medicines to India.

Exclusions: Diagnostic testing, Indian customs duties, customs clearance and delivery charges within India, Customised phage preparations, and any other items not explicitly mentioned in the Inclusions section given above are not included in the treatment cost.

What are Phages? What is Phage Therapy?

Bacteriophages, or simply phages, are viruses found abundantly in nature and are natural predators of bacteria. They attack only their target bacteria and are harmless to human, plant, and animal tissue. Phages are present in every environment that contains bacteria, including inside the human body.

Using these natural phages to combat bacterial infections is called Phage Therapy. It is a natural, safe, and effective treatment for a vast variety of bacterial infections, including antibiotic-resistant infections.

Phage Therapy is extremely effective for treating chronic and recurrent infections, with minimal side effects.

Why Choose Phage Therapy in India?

Phage therapy is customized for each patient who undergoes the treatment. The treatment plan is made while keeping in consideration the patient’s history with the infection, their current symptoms, and test reports from the bacterial culture and phage sensitivity analysis for the patient’s particular bacterial infection.

Medical and scientific research around the world showcases the effectiveness of phage therapy in cases of antibiotic treatment failure. A few such research papers and medical case reports are given below:

Advantages and Limitations of Bacteriophages for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.00513/full
Phage Therapy in the 21st Century: Is There Modern, Clinical Evidence of Phage-Mediated Efficacy? – https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/11/1157
Case Report: Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis Treated With Phage Therapy After Multiple Failed Antibiotic Treatments – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.692614/full
Case report: Successful treatment of recurrent E. coli infection with bacteriophage therapy for patient suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1243824/full

Who Can Benefit From Phage Therapy?

Any person suffering from any chronic or recurrent bacterial infection can benefit from phage therapy, even when repeated courses of antibiotics are not able to treat the infection.

Phage therapy can treat bacterial infections that are multidrug resistant (MDR) or even extremely drug resistant (XDR), and can be used to treat such infections even once antibiotic options have been exhausted.

Phage therapy is an individualized treatment through which only the pathogenic bacteria are targeted. Therefore, it does not have a harmful impact on the gut microbiome. Patients who have suffered the toxic side effects of sustained antibiotic use can undertake phage therapy without suffering from the side effects caused by long-term courses of antibiotics.

Most of the common bacterial pathogens that cause infections, like E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis (including VRE), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus spp. etc., are treatable with phage therapy.

Conditions Treatable with Phage Therapy in India:

Category	Specific Conditions
Urology & Gynaecology	– Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
	– Kidney & Bladder Infections
	– Prostatitis, Epididymitis & Orchitis
	– Vaginitis & Bacterial Vaginosis
Respiratory Conditions	– Cystic Fibrosis related infections
	– Pneumonia
	– Tracheitis
	– Bronchitis
	– Bronchiectasis
Ear, Nose & Throat	– Sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis
	– Laryngitis
	– Otitis
Gastrointestinal Infections	– Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
	– Irritable Bowel Syndrome
	– Gastritis
Dermatology	– Burn Wound Infections
	– Hidradenitis Suppurativa
	– Dermatitis
Paediatric Care	– Bacterial Conjunctivitis
	– Gastrointestinal Infections
	– Ear, Nose & Throat Infections
Surgical & Hospital-Acquired Infections	– Chronic Wounds, e.g., Surgical Wounds & Diabetic Foot Ulcers
	– Prosthetic-Acquired Infections

How is Phage Therapy Available in India?

Phage therapy is available in India through Vitalis Phage Therapy, a first-of-its-kind initiative that was started in 2018 to create access and awareness of phage therapy in India. Vitalis has partnered with the Eliava Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, a 100-year-old world-renowned phage research institute that offers phage therapy to patients across the world through its clinic, the Eliava Phage Therapy Center.

Vitalis has also partnered with one of India’s leading diagnostic lab facilities located in New Delhi for diagnostic testing and phage sensitivity analysis.

Local testing and treatment allow patients to take phage therapy while remaining in India without incurring the extra costs of traveling to Georgia for treatment.

Is Phage Therapy Permitted in India?

The World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki permits the use of treatments such as phage therapy in individual cases where known treatments like antibiotics have failed. Indian Medical Association (IMA) follows these guidelines and allows this treatment in India as personal medicine, called compassionate Phage Therapy (cPT).

Steps for Taking Phage Therapy in India

Initial consultation – Patient shares his/her past medical reports and case history with Vitalis Phage Therapy. If required, an initial telemedicine consultation with the doctors at Eliava Phage Therapy Center will be arranged.
Diagnostic testing – Vitalis will set up testing for the patient at our partner lab to identify the bacterial infection and its sensitivity to Eliava’s standard phages. The lab will report the culture growth with antibiotic sensitivity analysis and phage sensitivity analysis to the patient and Vitalis.
Customized treatment plan – Vitalis will collate the test reports along with the patient’s past medical reports and case history and send the documents to the treating doctor at Eliava Phage Therapy Center. The treating doctor at Eliava Phage Therapy Center will prepare a treatment plan based on these documents and send the phage therapy treatment plan, prescription, and invoice to the patient.
Shipping the phages – Eliava Phage Therapy Center will dispatch the phage shipment to the patient via courier, along with relevant documents for customs clearance.
Treatment initiation and follow up – The patient will begin the treatment with the phage medicines received. During the treatment, if the patient would like to consult with the Eliava doctors, a telemedicine consultation can be arranged.

Patient’s Review for Phage Therapy for Antibiotic Resistance Infections

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of bacterial infections can be treated with phage therapy?

Many common bacterial infections can be treated with phage therapy. Some examples of commonly treated conditions: Prostatitis, UTI, Wound Infections, SIBO, Respiratory infections etc.

How is phage therapy different from traditional antibiotic treatments?

Phage therapy uses naturally occurring phages for the treatment of bacterial infections as opposed to antibiotics, which are static chemical molecules. Some advantages of using phages over antibiotics are:

1. Phages can break down bacterial biofilms, which are associated with chronic and recurrent infections. Biofilms harbour microbes and pathogens in a protective environment that cannot be broken down by antibiotics.
2. Phages are narrow spectrum, and only attack their own target bacteria. They do not harm our gut microbiome, which is crucial for our immunity and wellbeing.
3. Phages generally do not cause side effects even with long term usage, unlike antibiotics, which can cause lasting damage with long term usage.

Is phage therapy safe, and are there any side effects?

Phage therapy taken under the prescription and guidance of experienced doctors is a safe and effective form of treatment. Natural phages used for treatment generally do not cause side effects even with long term usage because they only attack their specific bacterial hosts, and are dormant towards human tissue.

How are phages selected for treatment, and is the process personalized?

Each patient’s samples from their site of infection are cultured and the pathogenic bacterial strains that grow in the cultures are tested for phage sensitivity. Only the phages that are active against the pathogenic strains are prescribed for treatment.

Can phage therapy be combined with other medical treatments?

Phage therapy is a safe treatment option and can generally be taken alongside other treatments like antibiotics, with the exception of antiviral treatments. Antiviral medication would work against the phages.

How long does a typical phage therapy treatment last?

One full course of treatment usually lasts from 2 – 3 months.

Is phage therapy suitable for children and the elderly?

Yes, phage therapy is considered safe and suitable for children, elderly patients, as well as people who have high-risk conditions.

Are phages naturally occurring, or are they synthesized in a laboratory?

Phages occur naturally and are the most abundant biological entity on our planet. They outnumber bacteria by a factor of 10:1. The phages being used therapeutically are naturally occurring lytic phages.

How can I access phage therapy in India, and does insurance cover it?

To know how to access phage therapy in India, please refer to the section above titled “Steps for taking phage therapy in India”.
Some insurance providers might provide partial coverage for this treatment. Please check this with your insurance provider.

What is the success rate of phage therapy?

Approximately 70% of people who have taken phage therapy for their antibiotic resistant, chronic, or recurrent infections have experienced full resolution of their symptoms and infection after taking phage therapy.

Has the FDA approved phage therapy?

The US FDA has approved phage therapy on a compassionate basis – i.e., patients whose infections are not treatable with antibiotics can access phage therapy. This is called cPT – compassionate Phage Therapy, and the FDA approval for phage therapy is called IND (Innovative New Drug) approval. This is how the treatment is approved in India as well. The US FDA has also approved clinical trials with phage therapy for specific conditions.

Is phage therapy available in India?

Yes, phage therapy is available in India. Please refer to the section above titled “How is Phage Therapy Available in India” and “Steps for taking phage therapy in India”.