Antibiotic resistance is a big public health challenge globally. Researchers and healthcare professionals are exploring bacteriophage therapy to counter this. Being natural predators of bacteria, bacteriophages have the potential to address antibiotic-resistant infections.
The bacteriophage therapy industry is still in its infancy stage. It, however, holds great potential to combat antibiotic infections. According to Coherent Market Insights, global bacteriophage therapy demand is set to rise at 3.7% during the forecast period. Total industry size is projected to reach US$ 1651.8 million by 2030.
Phage therapy uses viruses to kill pathogenic bacteria. It can tackle bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics. There are, however, certain factors that are hindering phage therapy industry growth.
Bacteriophage Therapy Challenges
- Bacteriophage Regulatory Hurdles
The most significant challenge that tops our list is the strict regulatory framework. The prevailing regulatory landscape does not easily accommodate the unique nature of bacteriophage therapy. This causes delays and barriers in introducing and approving phage-based treatments.
Bacteriophages are highly specific to particularly bacterial strains. This specificity requires that each phage or phage cocktail be individually evaluated and approved for specific bacterial infections, thereby complicating the regulatory approval process.
- Public Perception
Low awareness is another barrier for the phage therapy industry. Many people across developing and developed nations have low awareness about phage therapy and its benefits. This leads to low adoption rate of bacteriophage therapy.
- Safety Issues
Safety concerns are also limiting the widespread adoption of phage therapy. Certain bacteriophages have been found to transfer virulence factors through horizontal gene transfer. Under certain conditions, a phage could unintentionally make a bacterial strain more pathogenic instead of destroying it.
- Bacteriophage Production Challenges
Production of phages on large scales also presents challenges for players. Bacteriophage therapy requires production of phages that are stable, pure, and consistent. This renders bacteriophage production more complex and expensive than the manufacturing of traditional antibiotics.
Bacteriophages also need to be produced in large quantities to meet therapeutic needs. This can be challenging given the need for customization based on the specific bacterial strain being targeted.
Opportunities in Phage Therapy Industry
The future of bacteriophage therapy looks bright and promising. This is due to rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, advancements in genetic engineering, and increasing investment in phage research.
- Rising Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance has become a serious threat to global health. This is because it can make the treatment of bacterial infections in humans difficult. Medical professionals are turning to alternative therapies like bacteriophage therapy to counter the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- Growing Demand for Targeted Therapies
Another key factor expected to boost the bacteriophage therapy industry is the rising demand for targeted therapies. Phages have the tendency to target and kill only harmful bacteria. They do not affect the beneficial bacteria and human tissues, thereby reducing side effects associated with antibiotics.
- Advances in Genetic Engineering
Phage engineering has thrown a new light into the bacteriophage therapy industry. Researchers are using CRISPR-Cas techniques to modify phage and improve their effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Development of bioengineered phages and their subsequent adoption in the vaccinology field are expected to create lucrative growth avenues for the industry.
- Expanding Scope in Personalized Medicine
Bacteriophages can be engineered to target specific bacterial strains. This makes phage therapy more precise compared to antibiotics. Personalized medicine with phage therapy can tailor the treatment to the individual’s bacterial infection, thereby improving treatment outcomes and reducing side effects.
- Increasing Investments in Phage Research
Pharmaceutical giants and biotech start-ups are heavily investing in bacteriophage research. This is expected to provide an additional thrust to the growth of the bacteriophage therapy industry.
