The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Nov 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
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 … Read more
23 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
1 Mar
2024
Report published
3 Jan
2024
Report published
26 Apr
2023
Oral evidence
26 Apr
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
15 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
15 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
8 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
8 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
26 Apr 2023
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Panel One; Panel Two
Dr Jonathan Pearce · Medical Research Council Dr Marc Bailey · Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Dr Morwenna Carrington · Department for Health and Social Care Dr Tim Jinks · Wellcome Trust Professor Isabel Oliver · UK Health Security Agency Professor Mark Sutton · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Richard Hebdon · Innovate UK
15 Mar 2023
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Dr Hans Petter Kleppen · ACD Pharma Dr Jean-Paul Pirnay · Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels Dr Mzia Kutateladze · George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology Greg Merril · Adaptive Phage Therapeutics Naomi Zak · BiomX Professor Jon Iredell · The Westmead Institute for Medical Research Professor Robert Schooley · UC San Diego School of Medicine
8 Feb 2023
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Dr James Soothill · Great Ormond Street Hospital Laboratory Medicine Dr Josh Jones · NHS Tayside Mr David Browning · Fixed Phage LTD Ms Stephanie Lesage · Oxford Silk Phage Technologies Ltd Professor Cath Rees · University of Nottingham Professor Joanne M. Santini · University College London Professor Martha Clokie · University of Leicester
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages HC 328 3 Jan 2024 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Review status of phages in AMR plans and improve research funding prospects
Because phages have had relatively limited recent research funding from public sources, we recommend that the Government reviews the status of phages within its plans to tackle AMR. We also recommend more specifically that the National Institute for Health and … Read more
Government Response
The government supports the principle of phage education but states that medical and veterinary training standards and curricula are the responsibility of independent statutory bodies (GMC, RCVS, and schools), thereby deflecting responsibility. It does not address the recommendation to review phages within AMR plans or NIHR/UKHSA engagement.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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11 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Require DHSC to respond to phage network proposals and outline plans for knowledge sharing
We recommend that the Department for Health and Social Care responds to the UK’s Phage Knowledge Transfer Network’s proposals within six months of their publication. The Department should set out how it will help develop a network for phage-related knowledge … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has committed to establishing general clinical trial acceleration networks with funding, but does not specifically address responding to the Phage Knowledge Transfer Network's proposals or developing a phage-specific knowledge sharing network or biobanks.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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12 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Integrate phage clinical use into medical training and ensure access information for healthcare staff
If phages are to be used more widely within the UK’s healthcare system it is important that healthcare professionals are aware that they are an antimicrobial alternative, especially when antibiotics have failed or are failing. We recommend that information about … Read more
Government Response
The government supports the principle of education and training on phages but redirects responsibility for medical and veterinary training standards and curricula to the independent General Medical Council, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and medical schools.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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13 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Public acceptance of phages is crucial for their effective role in tackling AMR
The public will need to be convinced that phages are safe and effective. This will be key if phages are to play a role in addressing AMR in healthcare and as part of a One Health approach to addressing AMR … Read more
Government Response
The government supports training on phage therapy but redirects responsibility for medical and veterinary training standards to the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), stating they determine curriculum content.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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16 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Establish a publicly-funded GMP facility for phage production and address industry investment barriers
We recommend that the Department for Health and Social Care considers bringing together funders with relevant catapults and innovation centres, such as the Centre The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages 59 for Process Innovation, to build a GMP facility that can … Read more
Government Response
The government indicates DHSC should review current guidance for non-GMP phages, and MHRA is developing new non-binding advisory guidance for them. However, it does not address the recommendation to build a GMP facility or invest in existing spaces for phage production, nor the question of pharmaceutical company investment.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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18 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Require MHRA to produce guidance on regulating GE phages and enzymes for GMP compliance
For phages to be effective they will need to keep pace with bacterial resistance and be amenable to adaptation for individual patients. Genetically engineered (GE) phages may be one way of ensuring this. GE phages have already been used in … Read more
Government Response
The government's response consists solely of a list of references and links, providing no specific textual reply or commitment regarding guidance for GE phages or extracted phage enzymes.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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28 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Mandate DHSC and MHRA to review phage clinical use rules for domestic and imported alignment
The current situation whereby in the absence of UK GMP facilities only phages imported from abroad can be used, which may themselves be non-GMP, is irrational and discriminatory. This is a costly approach based on a fragile supply chain, which … Read more
Government Response
The government states new non-binding advisory guidance on phage regulation is under development by MHRA, but the production of a monograph will be deferred until MHRA gains experience from this guidance.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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30 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Require MHRA to review and regulate UK non-GMP phages for compassionate use, producing monograph
We recommend that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) revisits the regulation of the clinical use of non-GMP phages produced in the UK for last resort compassionate cases where antibiotics or other antibacterial interventions have failed. The MHRA … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates that all medicines must be manufactured to GMP and states that new non-binding advisory guidance is under development by MHRA. However, the production of a monograph specifically for non-GMP phages, as recommended, will be deferred.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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31 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The antimicrobial p…
Review current regulations governing liability for clinicians and hospitals using UK non-GMP phages.
We recommend that the MHRA reviews how current regulations would govern liability for clinicians and hospitals who used UK non-GMP phages, produced to a magistral monograph. It should consider what changes, if any, could be made to provide greater reassurance … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that regulation for pharmacy practice is beyond the remit of the MHRA and that liability for unlicensed medicines currently rests with the prescriber.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 23 classified
Accepted 10
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 7
Deferred 9
Rejected 6
Total 23 recs + 10 conclusions