Pitt center for accelerating phage therapy (P-CAPT)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the University of Pittsburgh $2,160,947 on April 24, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to establish the Pitt Center for Accelerating Phage Therapy (P-CAPT), a multi-institutional research program developing bacteriophage therapy as a medical countermeasure against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

The program unifies phage therapy research across the University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and Intralytix, Inc. Research Project 1 develops rigorous assays and novel tools to optimize phage cocktail design. Research Project 2 establishes optimal phage dosing protocols using systems-based models. Scientific Core 1 (Phage Core) provides comprehensive and standardized phage development, analysis, and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) manufacturing for the entire program. Scientific Core 2 (Animal Core) conducts in vivo testing of individual phages and phage cocktails using established mouse models of P. aeruginosa respiratory tract infection.

The University of Southern California sub-recipient evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bacteriophage using in vitro and in vivo models of infection. Intralytix leads administrative support, research and development program management, phage susceptibility assays via PhageSelector, standardized phage development and manufacturing, preclinical lot production, regulatory characterization, and AI-driven manufacturing via PhageEngine.

Place of performance is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. The award period runs through March 31, 2031.

Abstract

Overall the overall objective of this application is to develop bacteriophage (PHAGE) therapy as a new medical countermeasure against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Antibiotic resistance is an urgent global health threat, and MDR P. Aeruginosa strains cause deadly infections like pneumonia and bacteremia. PHAGE therapy holds significant potential as a new therapeutic modality against MDR P. Aeruginosa. Here we propose to leverage the collective expertise of well-established leaders in the PHAGE therapy field to form the pitt center for accelerating PHAGE therapy (P-CAPT) program. The P-CAPT program will unify the efforts of PHAGE experts at the university of pittsburgh, university of southern california, walter reed army institute of research, and intralytix, INC. To develop methods and models that will accelerate PHAGE therapy for MDR P. Aeruginosa infections toward widespread clinical use. Through an alliance of two research projects supported by two scientific cores, the P-CAPT program will develop rigorous assays and novel tools to optimize PHAGE cocktail design (research project 1) and establish optimal PHAGE dosing protocols using systems-based models (research project 2). Scientific core 1 (PHAGE core) will provide comprehensive and standardized PHAGE development, analysis, and cgmp manufacturing for the entire P-CAPT program. Scientific core 2 (animal core) will conduct necessary in vivo testing of individual phages and PHAGE cocktails using well- established mouse models of P. Aeruginosa respiratory tract infection. Throughout the P-CAPT program, investigators will capitalize on their prior experience to catalyze preclinical PHAGE development targeting MDR P. Aeruginosa, which will serve as a model for PHAGE therapy research and development for all eskape pathogens. The distinguishing features of this program that set IT apart from others are the highly relevant expertise of the participating investigators, the use of phages that have already been administered to patients under compassionate use and in clinical trials, access to biospecimens collected from dozens of PHAGE therapy patients, and the participation of intralytix as an industry partner. Overall, the P-CAPT program will advance efficacious PHAGE therapy for MDR P. Aeruginosa infections, and will contribute to the CAPT-CEP mission of enhancing the quality and efficacy of PHAGE therapeutic products, thereby unlocking this therapy's full potential to combat eskape pathogen infections.