Microgen has launched the second phase of clinical trials of “Diphage” medicine

The Microgen NPO (Research and Production Association), a subsidiary of National Immunobiological Company of the Rostec State Corporation, has launched the second stage of clinical trials of “Diphage” medicine. The medicine is a bacteriophage, a nontoxic virus that selectively infects only bacterial cells.

Unlike antibiotics, a new bacteriophage has a targeted effect and can be safely used to treat specific categories of patients, including pregnant and lactating women, as well as newborns.

“Russian pharmaceutical industry is one of the world leaders in bacteriophage production. Our company’s recent developments of drugs for treating bacterial infections are able not only to claim the major share of the Russian market but also to be exported worldwide. The clinical trials of the new drug are expected to be completed by the end of 2018”, - Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of the Rostec State Corporation commented.

The current stage of “Diphage” clinical trials aims to confirm the safety and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy in the patients with surgical infections of the skin and soft tissues caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter. The “Diaphage” medicine affects bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which most often cause infectious diseases in patients of surgical hospitals and intensive care units. According to a study conducted in the intensive care units of four hospitals in Perm, over 80% of complications were caused namely by those bacteria types.