Locus Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced a research collaboration agreement with global healthcare company Viatris Inc. (NASDAQ: VTRS) to develop novel engineered bacteriophage products targeting ophthalmic bacterial infections. The partnership aims to address serious eye infections, representing an area of high unmet medical need due to the rise in antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide.
Precision Bacteriophage Platform Technology
Under the collaboration terms, Locus and Viatris will work together to develop precision antibacterial therapeutics using Locus's proprietary development platform. The platform integrates predictive artificial intelligence (AI), high-throughput robotics, and synthetic biology to create bacteriophage cocktails that selectively eliminate pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial species.
Locus engineers bacteriophage—naturally occurring viruses that target bacteria—to kill pathogenic bacteria while preserving good bacteria, using programmable CRISPR-Cas3 and other therapeutic payloads. This approach represents a new class of precision biotherapeutics for bacterial and microbiome/inflammatory diseases.
Strategic Significance for Antimicrobial Resistance
"This partnership with Viatris marks a significant milestone for Locus as we bring our world-leading bacteriophage therapy platform to ophthalmology," said Paul Garofolo, Co-founder and CEO of Locus Biosciences. "Targeted therapies are urgently needed to address the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in eye infections. We're proud to work with Viatris to accelerate the development of new precision medicines for patients in need."
The collaboration underscores the growing global recognition of phage therapy as a promising alternative or complement to traditional antibiotics, particularly as antimicrobial resistance continues to rise amid decades of chronic under-investment in novel antibacterial treatment approaches.
Clinical Pipeline and Development Support
Locus's lead clinical asset, LBP-EC01, is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The company has secured non-dilutive partnerships with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Accelerator (CARB-X) to support its product development efforts.
The company's world-leading bacteriophage discovery, synthetic biology, and manufacturing platform powers its development of precision biotherapeutics for diverse bacterial diseases. This new collaboration with Viatris extends the platform's application into ophthalmology, addressing a critical therapeutic area where antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges to patient care.
