Phaxiam Therapeutics has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the FDA to proceed with its Phase II GLORIA study. This trial will investigate the use of phage therapy for treating Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The GLORIA study is a significant step forward in addressing the unmet medical need in PJI treatment, where current standards of care have a failure rate of 50%.
Study Design and Objectives
The GLORIA study is designed as a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. It aims to enroll 100 patients with PJI following hip or knee replacement who undergo open surgical debridement (DAIR). Participants will be treated with Phaxiam’s anti-S. aureus phages or a placebo, in conjunction with antibiotics. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of phage therapy in this setting.
The trial will be conducted across multiple centers in the United States and Europe, including France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Patient recruitment is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025, with clinical data expected in the third quarter of 2026. Professor Tristan Ferry, an expert in phage therapy and coordinator of the Reference Center for Complex Osteoarticular Infections (CRIOAC) at the Croix-Rousse Hospital (HCL, Lyon), will serve as the principal investigator.
Addressing Unmet Needs in PJI Treatment
Prosthetic Joint Infections represent a severe complication following joint replacement surgery, with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 new cases occurring annually in Western countries. Current treatment approaches often fail, leading to reinfection rates of 60%, amputation in 11% of cases, and a mortality rate of 25% at five years. The economic burden is also substantial, with high treatment costs impacting healthcare systems.
Phage therapy offers a promising alternative by utilizing natural bacterial-killing viruses to target S. aureus infections. Phaxiam Therapeutics has already gathered clinical data from compassionate use cases, demonstrating a good safety profile and clinical benefits with locally administered anti-S. aureus phages.
Regulatory Pathway and Future Prospects
Following successful completion of the GLORIA study, Phaxiam Therapeutics anticipates being eligible for an early access process and may pursue Conditional Market Approval (CMA) in Europe as early as the second half of 2027. This regulatory pathway could expedite the availability of phage therapy for PJI patients.
Thibaut du Fayet, Chief Executive Officer of Phaxiam Therapeutics, stated, "This FDA IND clearance is a major recognition of our therapeutic approach and of our whole platform... With these strategic advances, we are about to reinforce our position as a leader in phage therapy for Prosthetic Joint Infection, a critical indication with high worldwide incidence and critical unmet medical needs."
