Advancing the fight against antibiotic resistance with nature’s original solution
- Phage UK - The UK Clinical Network for Phage therapy
Advancing the fight against antibiotic resistance with nature’s original solution
Advancing the fight against antibiotic resistance with nature’s original solution
Advancing the fight against antibiotic resistance with nature’s original solution
Phage UK's Clinical Network for Phage Therapy has established 5 national clinical focus groups to help clinicians assess and advance the use of bacteriophage therapy for patients who have run out of bacterial infection treatment options. Each of the 5 MDT is composed of a core group of clinicians from across the UK with recognised experience in managing complex infections :
1-Bone and Joint Infections
2-Cardiac and Vascular Implants
3-Respiratory Infections
4-Urinary tract infections
5-Paediatrics
NHS England has formally recognised the need for novel therapeutic approaches in complex musculoskeletal infections, particularly those involving antimicrobial resistance or those with limited treatment options.
This initiative reflects and builds on recent UK policy and regulatory developments around antimicrobial resistance and phage therapy, including the UK 5-Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy (2024–2029), the 2023 Science, Innovation and Technology Committee review, the UKSHA’s 2024 engagement and agenda-setting activity relating to bacteriophages* and the MHRA’s 2025 first official regulatory guidance supporting the safe development and use of phage therapies**.
The Network was established to provide national infrastructure and transparent clinical governance for the personalised use of bacteriophages in difficult-to-treat infections.
These biological agents are capable of targeting specific bacterial pathogens and may provide an alternative option in cases where conventional antibiotics or surgical options have failed. The aim is to deliver coordinated, high-quality care across regions without displacing existing clinical expertise.
A core function of the Network is the National MDT, which acts as an expert panel to assess the suitability of phage therapy in individual cases. The MDT draws on infectious diseases consultants, microbiologists, disease specific clinicians, pharmacists and international collaborators. Its purpose is to ensure that treatment decisions are safe, evidence-informed and consistent with national governance frameworks.
Phage therapy is not yet a routine part of NHS care. However, this Network represents a strategic first step towards integrating phage therapy into mainstream infectious disease practice to ensure that patients with otherwise untreatable infections have access to safe, targeted, and innovative care.
* How bacteria-munching viruses could offer an alternative to antibiotics – UK Health Security Agency
** Helping bring phage medicines to UK patients – guidance for industry - GOV.UK
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