IP Library Granted Patent US 12,268,720
Granted Patent B2
US 12,268,720 · App. 16/968,132 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Bacteriophage for treatment and prevention of

Inventors: Sandra P. Morales (Sydney, AU); Igor P. Bilinsky (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
A61K35/768A61K45/06C12N7/00C12N2795/10132C12N2795/10332
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,268,720
App. No.
16/968,132
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a bacteriophage composition comprising one or more (suitably two or more, or three) bacteriophages that target oncogenic (tumorigenic) bacteria, and use of the same for treating or preventing cancer.

Claims (34)

1. A method of treating a bacterial associated cancer bacterial infection in a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient a composition comprising at least two obligately lytic bacteriophages that infect and lyse a bacterium, and wherein

a) the bacteriophages are selected from Ec34 (SEQ ID NO:2), Ec35 (SEQ ID NO:3), Ec45 (SEQ ID NO:4), and Ec57 (SEQ ID NO:6), and wherein the target bacteria are Escherichia coli ; or

b) wherein the bacteriophages are selected from Bf1 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-02), Bf2 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-03), Bf3 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-04), and Bf4 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-05) and wherein the target bacteria are Bacteroides fragilis.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has a confirmed infection with Escherichia coli or Bacteroides fragilis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is associated with a bacterial-associated cancer selected from colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, gallbladder cancer, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, or MALT lymphoma.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the E. coli are pks+ E. coli , and/or wherein the Bacteroides fragilis are enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteriophages are specific for the bacteria and do not target other microorganisms.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an antibiotic, and/or wherein the method further comprises administering an antibiotic to the subject.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has been screened for a genetic mutation that predisposes the patient to cancer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, excipient or combinations thereof comprising calcium salt or magnesium salt.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are characterized by the presence of a bacterial biofilm and are resistant to antibiotics.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered via an oral formulation of the composition.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered intravenously.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering the composition in combination with an immunotherapeutic agent, wherein the immunotherapeutic agent comprises an immune checkpoint inhibitor selected from anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA-4, anti-CD27, or anti-IDO-1.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering the composition in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent, and wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, Trifluridine and/or tipiracil.

14. A method for treating a bacterial infection in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the patient a composition comprising one or more obligately lytic bacteriophages that infect and lyse a bacterium, wherein the bacteriophages target at least one bacterial species that is associated with colorectal cancer; and wherein

a) the bacteriophages are selected from Ec34 (SEQ ID NO:2), Ec35 (SEQ ID NO:3), Ec45 (SEQ ID NO:4), and Ec57 (SEQ ID NO:6), and wherein the target bacteria are Escherichia coli ; or

b) wherein the bacteriophages are selected from Bf1 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-02), Bf2 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-03), Bf3 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-04), and Bf4 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-05) and wherein the target bacteria are Bacteroides fragilis.

15. A human therapeutic bacteriophage composition formulated for treating a bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising one or more obligately lytic bacteriophages that infect and lyse a bacterium, the bacteriophages having a narrow spectrum of activity against the target bacteria, wherein each individual bacteriophage is not prone to generalized transduction and does not carry antibiotic resistance genes, wherein the composition is substantially free of bacterial components; wherein the composition comprises a single dosage of 1×10 5 to 1×10 11 PFU of each phage per mL of composition; and wherein

a) the bacteriophages are selected from Ec34 (SEQ ID NO:2), Ec35 (SEQ ID NO:3), Ec45 (SEQ ID NO:4), and Ec57 (SEQ ID NO:6), and wherein the target bacteria are Escherichia coli ; or

b) wherein the bacteriophages are selected from Bf1 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-02), Bf2 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-03), Bf3 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-04), and Bf4 (deposited with the International Depositary Authority of Canada under Accession No. 040219-05) and wherein the target bacteria are Bacteroides fragilis.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a cryoprotectant, and wherein the cryoprotectant comprises 10% sucrose or between about 5% and about 50% glycerol.

17. The method of claim 1 , comprising about a 1:1 ratio of the at least two of bacteriophages.

18. A composition comprising a bacteriophage composition according to claim 15 , formulated for oral delivery.

19. A composition comprising a bacteriophage composition according to claim 15 , wherein the composition is frozen, lyophilized, liquid, or solid.

20. A method of treating a bacterial infection comprising:

a) selecting a patient with a confirmed bacterial-associated cancer and,

b) administering the bacteriophage composition according to claim 15 to the subject.

21. A kit comprising:

a. A bacteriophage composition according to claim 15 ; and

b. Instructions for use of same.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is known to have a cancer.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, gallbladder cancer, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, or MALT lymphoma.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is known to have a colorectal cancer.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074715/0208 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 072025/0567 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2025
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 070532/0979 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2024
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC.; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 066657/0409 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2023
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC.; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 064262/0958 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2023
From: ARMATA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; C3J THERAPEUTICS, INC.; C3 JIAN, LLC
To: INNOVIVA STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES LLC
Reel/Frame 062733/0983 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62627725 · Feb 7, 2018
Related Publication 20210369798A1 · Dec 2, 2021
References Cited (34)
EP 2893933A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009532055A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016509998A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017507913A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007113657A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2014130540A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015104388A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
Bruttin A, Brüssow H. Human volunteers receiving [cited by examiner]
Buc E, Dubois D, Sauvanet P, Raisch J, Delmas J, Darfeuille-Michaud A, Pezet D, Bonnet R. High prevalence of mucosa-associated [cited by examiner]
Extended European Search Report mailed on Nov. 10, 2021, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2019/017129, mailed on Apr. 22, 2019, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Dejea et al. (Feb. 2, 2018) “Patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Harbor Colonic Biofilms Containing Tumorigenic Bacteria”, Science, 359(6375):592-597 (7 pages). [cited by applicant]
Hernandedz-Luna et al. (Jan. 2016) “The Role of [cited by applicant]
Purcell et al. (Feb. 2, 2017) “Colonization with Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides Fragilis is Associated with Early-Stage Colorectal Neoplasia”, PLoS One, 12(2):1-10. [cited by applicant]
Shields et al. (2016) “Reduction of Murine Colon Tumorigenesis Driven by Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides Fragilis Using Cefoxitin Treatment”, the Journal of Infectious Diseases, 214:122-129. [cited by applicant]
Steele et al. (Jun. 1976) “Prevention of Low Temperature Denaturation Injury in T4Bo Phage by Low Concentrations of Traditional Cryoprotective Additives”, the Journal of Hygiene, 76(3):453-458. [cited by applicant]
Bolocan et al. (Nov. 9, 2016) “Phage therapy targeting [cited by applicant]
Budynek et al. (May 2010) “Bacteriophages and Cancer”, Archives of Microbiology, 192(5):315-320. [cited by applicant]
Dabrowska et al. (2004) “Antitumor Activity of Bacteriophages in Murine Experimental Cancer Models Caused Possibly By Inhibition of [Beta]3 Integrin Signaling Pathway”, Acta Virologica, 48(4): 241-248. [cited by applicant]
Dabrowska et al. (2014) “Bacteriophages Displaying Anticancer Peptides in Combined Antibacterial and Anticancer Treatment”, Future Microbiology, 9(7):861-869. [cited by applicant]
Dufour et al. (Nov. 1, 2016) “Bacteriophage LM33_P1, A Fast-acting Weapon Against The Pandemic ST131-025b:H4 [cited by applicant]
Dufour et al. (Jun. 1, 2017) “The Lysis of Pathogenic [cited by applicant]
Dufour et al. (Jun. 1, 2015) “Treatment of Highly Virulent Extraintestinal Pathogenic [cited by applicant]
Luo et al. (August, 2012) “Genome, Integration, and Transduction of a Novel Temperate Phage of Helicobacter pylori”, Journal of Virology, 86(16):8781-8792. [cited by applicant]
Uchiyama et al. (Mar. 8, 2013) “Characterization of Helicobacter pylori Bacteriophage KHP30”, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 79(10):3176-3184. [cited by applicant]
Eriksson, et al., Tumor-specific bacteriophages induce tumor destruction through activation of tumor-associated macrophages, Journal of Immunology, 2009, pp. 3105-3111, vol. 182, No. 5. [cited by applicant]
Golshahi, et al., In vitro lung delivery of bacteriophages KS4-M and ΦKZ using dry powder inhalers for treatment of Burkholderia cepacia complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis, Journal of Micro… [cited by applicant]
Hannigan, et al., Viral and Bacterial Communities of Colorectal Cancer, BioRxiv, 2017, 39 pages. [cited by applicant]
Jassim, et al., Natural solution to antibiotic resistance: bacteriophages ‘The Living Drugs’, World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2014, pp. 2153-2170. [cited by applicant]
Kingwell, et al., Bacteriophage therapies re-enter clinical trials, 2015, pp. 515-516, vol. 14. [cited by applicant]
Malik, et al., Formulation, stabilization and encapsulation of bacteriophage for phage therapy, 2017, pp. 100-133, vol. 249. [cited by applicant]
Monk, et al., Bacteriophage applications: where are we now?, Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2010, pp. 363-369, vol. 51. [cited by applicant]
Pabary, et al., Antipseudomonal Bacteriophage Reduces Infective Burden and Inflammatory Response in Murine Lung, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2016, pp. 744-751, vol. 60, No. 2. [cited by applicant]
Porayath, Characterization of the bacteriophages binding to human matrix molecules, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2018, pp. 608-615, vol. 110. [cited by applicant]