Dutch Man Seeks Life-Saving Bacteriophage Therapy in georgia as European Research Gains Momentum
A Dutch man is turning to Georgia for a potentially life-saving treatment with bacteriophages – viruses that kill bacteria – after conventional antibiotics failed to combat a severe infection. His case highlights the disparity in access to this emerging therapy, unavailable in the Netherlands despite growing European research efforts. The man’s wife launched a public appeal on LinkedIn,prompting three dutch laboratories to offer assistance in sending a sample of the bacteria from his body to Georgia for analysis and potential phage-based treatment.
While bacteriophage therapy holds promise for tackling antibiotic-resistant infections, it remains largely experimental in much of Europe. The Netherlands currently lacks a framework for widespread clinical submission, forcing patients to seek treatment abroad. This situation is poised to change, though, as European regulations surrounding phage production and research have recently been updated, paving the way for increased availability. “It’s becoming easier to produce fagen,” explains Dr. Jos Bonten, signaling a shift towards broader implementation.
The evolving regulatory landscape is fostering the emergence of companies capable of producing bacteriophages under stringent guidelines. These firms are now offering to evaluate their phage cocktails in research settings. “We are seeing companies arise that can produce fagen according to those strict guidelines and carry out production. And those companies indicate that they have a phage cocktail that they would like to evaluate in a study,” Bonten stated.
Looking ahead,three large-scale European studies are slated to begin next year,with funding applications submitted and awaiting selection. These projects will facilitate collaboration between research groups and phage-producing companies. Despite the optimism, Bonten cautions that definitive scientific results are still years away. “Although I expect answers, I emphasize that it may take years before the scientific results are known.”
