PHIOGEN, Houston, Texas, USA
https://www.phiogenpharma.com/

PHI-BI-01

PHIOGEN is developing its novel, dual-action therapeutic designed to treat and prevent extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) bloodstream infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant strains.This next-generation phage-based project aims to reduce mortality and recurrence in patients suffering from life-threatening bacterial sepsis by combining immediate bacterial killing with long-term immune protection from subsequent infections.

PHI-BI-01 has the potential to represent a new class of phage therapy designed to do more than clear infections. This candidate product offers the long-term protection against reinfection by incorporating phages enhanced through directed evolution to overcome bacterial resistance and stimulate a protective immune response. Through its discovery platform, PHIOGEN applies evolutionary selection, high-throughput screening, and human-relevant immune models to develop phages with both potent antibacterial and immunogenic properties. In partnership with CARB-X, upcoming studies will explore the immune mechanisms behind this protection to optimize dosing, scheduling, and durability.

Current Development Stage: Seed Award

CARB-X Investment: US$1.1 million

Initial CARB-X Investment Date: August 26, 2025