PHIOGEN, a biotech company developing live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) for drug-resistant and recurrent bacterial infections, is collaborating with patient research and advocacy organization Live UTI Free (LUF) to empower their clinical development efforts. The new alliance will advance the optimization of bacteriophage therapeutics to treat recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections) through education and by connecting the LUF community with PHIOGEN’s pre-trial survey.
Amanda Burkardt, CEO at PHIOGEN, said: “The upcoming survey we’re conducting is incredibly important; each person who participates will play a direct role in shaping our clinical trial and guiding the development of our drug product to better meet patients’ needs. Organizations like Live UTI Free bring genuine scientific evidence and meaningful discussions to patients who previously relied on trawling social media groups or other informal sources for relief. We’re grateful for their support in sharing our mission with the broader community.”
UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections
A comprehensive clinical trial is currently being developed by PHIOGEN’s clinical advisory board and is expected to begin in Q4 of 2025. The upcoming survey will collect data on patient history, symptoms, solutions tried, trial concerns, and attitudes towards alternative treatments to guide the company’s trial design. The information, combined with a commitment to develop a solution for recurrent UTIs that is patient-friendly, easy to implement, and has a lasting durability of effect will ensure the trial aligns with patient needs.
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Melissa Kramer, Founder and CEO at Live UTI Free, said: “It’s reassuring to hear such dedication to understanding patient needs, and developing solutions for recurrent UTIs from PHIOGEN’s team. Their focus on not only killing the active infection, but simultaneously working to prevent reinfection is very important to the patient population. I would encourage anyone who is curious to learn more or get involved in the future trial to complete the survey and watch our upcoming interview together.”
UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, with over 400 million cases annually. Roughly 40% of these patients will experience reinfection within six months, with some becoming chronically infected, leading to a significant burden on healthcare systems and affecting patients’ quality of life. UTIs are the second most common reason for the prescription of antibiotics which can result in a high rate of drug failure and women being disproportionately impacted, with nearly 60%of all women experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime.
Bridging the gender gap in pelvic health
Live UTI Free is a patient research and advocacy organization dedicated to transforming women’s health research. Its focus is on bridging the gender gap in pelvic health and its team has cultivated a vast online community through patient research and its education platform. LUF collaborates closely with patients, clinicians, and scientists internationally to integrate the patient perspective significantly into research. By linking patients to clinical trials, scientific studies, and quality of life impact assessments, LUF drives engagement and ensures that research reflects real-world experiences.
Early collaborations between biotech innovators like PHIOGEN and patient advocacy organizations like Live UTI Free are essential for creating impactful, patient-centered treatments. By bringing patient perspectives to the forefront of drug development, these partnerships help ensure that therapeutic solutions align closely with the real-world needs and experiences of those affected.
“Involving patients early in the clinical journey, as PHIOGEN is doing with our pre-trial survey, not only enriches the quality of data collected but also enhances the relevance and success of future clinical trials,” Burkardt commented. “Collaborating with Live UTI Free highlights our dedication to integrating patient perspectives from the start, and we’ll continue working closely together through each phase of our clinical trial plan.”
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