Committees

The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages

Inquiry

This inquiry is informed by the successful pitch to the Committee’s My Science inquiry. The World Health Organisation has warned that antibiotic resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today, while the Government’s Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance, Dame Sally Davies, has called AMR the ‘silent pandemic’. There has therefore been increased interest in alternative antimicrobials to be used instead of, or in conjunction with antibiotics. One of these alternative antimicrobials is bacteriophages (‘phages’)—viruses which can kill harmful bacteria but not harm humans. Though there are centres for phages research and phage bio banks, their clinical use has been restricted by regulation in the UK and EU to  individual ‘compassionate use’ where antibiotics have failed. This has been seen as inhibiting the potential of phages to address AMR.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Friday 20 January 2023.

Work news

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SITC “bemused” by Government claims on lack of specialist laboratory capacity in UK
The Government has published its response to SITC’s January report on the life-and-limb saving potential of bacteriophages
14 March 2024
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UK should break licensing “impasse” and maximise the potential of bacteria-eating, life-saving viruses
The Science, Innovation & Technology Committee calls for steps to develop the potential of bacteria-killing viruses that can provide an alternative to antibiotics
3 January 2024
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