CRISPR-enhanced phage therapy for UTIs

In October 2024, Locus Biosciences made headlines by securing $23.9 million from BARDA to advance its cutting-edge CRISPR-engineered phage therapy, LBP-EC01. This therapy is specifically designed to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by drug-resistant Escherichia coli. Unlike conventional phage therapies, which rely on natural phages, this innovation integrates CRISPR-Cas3 technology, which acts like molecular scissors to degrade bacterial DNA, offering a precise and powerful solution.

The funding will support the continuation of Phase 2 trials, which are crucial in demonstrating the efficacy of this treatment in human patients. Given the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, particularly for common infections like UTIs, this approach could offer a breakthrough in how we treat bacterial infections without relying on antibiotics. If successful, CRISPR-based bacteriophage therapies may redefine the way we approach not just UTIs but other drug-resistant bacterial infections.