Avoiding a Return to the Pre-antibiotics Era
Prior to the discovery of antibiotics infected minor cuts and scrapes could result in amputation, or worse. Nowadays, with the overuse of antibiotics, particularly in the meat and poultry industries, bacteria are rapidly becoming resistant to all classes of antibiotics. When a new antibiotic is developed, the bacteria -- often referred to as superbugs -- mutate so quickly they are resistant to the antibiotic before very costly clinical trials are completed. Those antibiotics that do make it through the clinical trial process may have serious side-effects and use is often restricted by the FDA. Because of the cost-prohibitive regulatory processes and lowered profit margins, pharmaceutical companies have abandoned development of new classes of antibiotics.
Our Solution: Broad Spectrum Bacteriophage Cocktails
To address the problem of antibiotic resistance Theralytix has developed four broad spectrum polyvalent bacteriophage cocktails. While the company will initially manufacture branded products for human use, the phage components are available to third parties for use in all relevant verticals.
The Bacterial Pathogens We Are Targeting
Enterococcus spp.
Causes a variety of infections, including endocarditis, urinary tract infections, prostatitis, intra-abdominal infection, cellulitis, and wound infection.
Escherichia coli
Some E. coli strains cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.
Proteus spp.
A common bacterium that can cause complicated UTI, especially in catherized patients.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Designated by WHO as a critical priority, can cause infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia), or other parts of the body after surgery.
Salmonella spp.
Most people who become ill from Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps; some illness may require hospitalization.
Shigella spp.
Shigella can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. A major cause of death in third world countries.
Staphylococcus spp.
Boils, impetigo, food poisoning, cellulitis and toxic shock syndrome are all examples of diseases that can be caused by Staphylococcus.
Streptococcus spp.
Causes many disorders, including strep throat, pneumonia, and wound, skin, heart valve, and bloodstream infections.
Some Infectious Disease Statistics
Per the peer-reviewed journal BMC viral respiratory infections in COVID-19 patients predispose them to bacterial infections, and these co-infections have a worse outcome than either infection on its own.
According to CDC’s “Biggest Threats and Data” 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. In addition, 223,900 cases of Clostridium difficile occurred in 2017 and at least 12,800 people died.
10% of the global population suffer with chronic, biofilm-based infections that do not respond to antibiotics. Among these are urinary tract infections, sinusitis, non-healing wounds and many similar bacteria-caused medical conditions.
In 2017 almost 1.6 million people died from diarrheal diseases. This is more than all deaths from all ‘intentional injuries’ combined in the same year. Diarrheal disease was the cause of every tenth child's death in 2017 -- more than half a million of the 5.4 million children that died in 2017 died from diarrheal disease.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.