Ferring links with Intralytix on bacteriophage therapy for IBD

Privately-held Swiss drugmaker Ferring Pharmaceuticals has entered a collaboration with Baltimore, USA-based Intralytix, in the latest phase of its early stage development program for a bacteriophage-based therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Under the collaboration, Intralytix will assist Ferring in formulating and manufacturing the bacteriophages for use in clinical trials, which are expected to begin as soon as 2016. The new program aims to test the feasibility and efficacy of these bacteriophages in controlled human clinical trials. No financial terms of the accord were disclosed.

“Crohn’s disease is a painful and debilitating condition with limited treatment options,” said Per Falk, executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Ferring, adding: “Our development program to bring relief to CD patients with our bacteriophage treatment directed against AIEC bacteria is ongoing.”