Prophylactic Cholera Phage Cocktail for Community Protection
Official title: Manufacturing and Formulation Process Development for a Prophylactic Cholera Phage Cocktail
Funded at Phagepro, INC. · NIH-11248380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast-acting phage-based preventive treatment called ProphaLytic-Vc is being developed to help people in cholera-prone areas avoid infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Phagepro, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mansfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 16, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI188855-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals or at-risk communities in cholera-endemic areas seeking a preventive option beyond vaccines and WASH efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with contraindications to phage therapy or those not at risk for cholera may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on creating and optimizing a phage-based prophylactic product to prevent cholera outbreaks in at-risk communities. It addresses manufacturing and formulation processes to produce a stable, effective PVC product that could be used before exposure. If successful, it could reduce transmission and protect households and communities during outbreaks, especially where vaccines and water/sanitation interventions are resource-intensive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the prophylactic product could lower cholera risk for people in high-risk regions and help reduce outbreak spread.
How similar studies have gone: Phage-based prevention strategies have shown promise in bacterial infection control in preliminary studies, but this application is novel for cholera prophylaxis.
Where this research is happening
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Phagepro, INC.
Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yen, Minmin — Phagepro, INC.
- Study coordinator: Yen, Minmin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Developing a new treatment to prevent cholera outbreaks using bacteriophages.
This study is testing a special mix of viruses that can help prevent cholera, a serious illness that causes severe diarrhea, especially for people who have been around someone who is infected.
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Testing a new treatment to prevent cholera outbreaks using bacteriophages.
This study is testing a new treatment using special viruses that can help protect communities at risk of cholera, aiming to quickly reduce the spread of this serious illness.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.