Phaxiam Therapeutics has secured FDA approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a Phase II clinical trial, named 'GLORIA', focusing on osteoarticular prosthetic joint infections (PJI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus. This pivotal study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Phaxiam's anti-S. aureus phages in conjunction with antibiotics for patients undergoing open surgical debridement (DAIR) due to PJI. The trial's design and FDA clearance represent a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of treating these difficult-to-eradicate infections.
The 'GLORIA' trial is designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled study that will enroll 100 patients diagnosed with PJI affecting either the hip or knee prosthesis. All participants will undergo DAIR, a surgical procedure involving the removal of infected tissue and hardware. Patients will then be randomized to receive either Phaxiam's anti-S. aureus phages in combination with standard antibiotic therapy or a placebo alongside antibiotics. The primary endpoint of the study will likely assess the eradication of infection and clinical outcomes at a defined follow-up period.
With FDA approval secured, Phaxiam is moving forward with activating clinical trial sites. The company has already identified five clinical centers and plans to expand to ten participating centers to ensure broad geographic coverage and facilitate patient enrollment. The strategic selection of clinical sites is intended to optimize recruitment and ensure the study's timely completion.
Pending successful completion of the GLORIA study, anticipated in Q3 2026, Phaxiam intends to pursue an early access pathway and explore the possibility of Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) in Europe. This regulatory strategy could potentially enable pre-commercialization activities in Europe as early as the second half of 2027, providing a potential new treatment option for patients suffering from S. aureus PJI.
