UMC Utrecht launches €4 million study on virus therapy for antibiotic-resistant UTIs

UMC Utrecht will receive 4 million euros to study bacteriophages, viruses that can kill bacteria, as a potential treatment for patients with recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) that no longer respond to antibiotics.

The hospital said some bacteriophages may work against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, offering hope for patients whose infections keep returning. “The unique aspect of this study is that we will, for the first time, select the exact phage that matches the bacteria present in each patient,” said physician-microbiologist Pieter-Jan Haas in a press release.

The funding will support the first clinical trial to develop a personalized bacteriophage treatment. UMC Utrecht will conduct the study with 150 participants suffering from recurrent UTIs. Half will receive the tailored bacteriophage therapy, while the other half will receive a saline solution. An estimated 1,250 Dutch patients are expected to qualify for the treatment.

The hospital will also establish an on-site facility to produce bacteriophages as a medicinal product. The 4 million euros come from the “Veelbelovende zorg” subsidy program, provided by the Zorginstituut and ZonMW.

“If phage therapy works, we can significantly reduce antibiotic use and cut healthcare costs,” said UMC internist-infectiologist Marjolein Hensgens.

Bacteriophage treatments are already used in some parts of the world, typically as a cocktail of multiple viruses. “We still do not know for certain how effective bacteriophages are against resistant bacteria. Hensgens said, "This study is the first of its kind, and we are tapping into the full potential of bacteriophages."