Phico Therapeutics

Company overview

Phico Therapeutics (Phico) is a biotechnology company developing engineered phage technology as the basis of a new generation of antibiotics to overcome antibacterial resistance, particularly those caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Phico’s SASPject™ platform technology utilises engineered bacterial viruses, or phages, to deliver a gene encoding a unique antibacterial small acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) that inactivates bacterial DNA. This stops the bacteria from metabolising or reproducing, whilst the SASP remains unaffected by the sequence of the bacterial DNA, including mutations, making resistance unlikely to develop. SASPject can target any chosen bacteria including those that are treatment resistant.

Founded in Cambridge, UK by Dr Heather Fairhead, Phico is building an innovative intravenous antibacterials pipeline focused on serious infections with few existing treatment options and targeting key superbug threats including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The company has previously received backing from independent investors, the Wellcome Trust and UK Government grants, and has a clear path to take lead intravenous product, P. aeruginosa targeted, SASPject PT3.9 through a study in patients. Phico recently announced funding from CARB-X, a global non-profit partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria, led by Boston University.

We are delighted that BGF have made this investment alongside many of Phico’s existing investor base. Coupled with the recent award from CARB-X, these funds will enable the company to exemplify the technology in first in human intravenous studies. This is a very exciting time for Phico and we’re looking forward to great things ahead.

Dr Heather Fairhead, CEO