549. A Phase 2a Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of an Intravenous (IV) Bacteriophage Cocktail (AP-SA02) vs. Placebo in Combination with Best Available Antibiotic Therapy (BAT) in Patients with Complicated Staphyl

Abstract Background Complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a serious, common, and frequently lethal infection. Treatment options are complicated by resistance, drug intolerance, or relapse. Novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Methods We performed a phase 2a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of an IV bacteriophage cocktail, AP-SA02, q6 hrs x 5 days vs. placebo (2:1 ratio) in combination with BAT in patients with complicated SAB. Clinical response (Table 1) was assessed in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population at Test of Cure (TOC) on Day 12, post-BAT, and End of Study (EOS) four weeks after BAT completion. Safety analysis included data from the Phase 1b trial (n=8). Results We enrolled 42 patients from 17 sites (95% US), with 29 randomized to AP-SA02 (A) and 13 to placebo (P). MRSA was the pathogen in 39% of the (A) and 44% (P) groups, respectively. Site of infection and antibiotics used were similar for both arms. (Table 2). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 6% (2/35) and 0% (0/15) in the (A) and (P) groups, respectively. (Table 3). Day 12 clinical response rates were 88% (21/24) in SA-PA02 vs. 58% (7/12) in the placebo (p = 0.047) as assessed by blinded site investigators (PI), and 83% (20/24) vs. 58% (7/12) as assessed by the blinded Adjudication Committee (AC). At post-BAT and EOS, non-response/relapse rate was 0% and 0% in the (A) group by both PI and AC assessment compared to 23% by AC and 25% PI in the (P) group (p < 0.025, Figure 1). Patients on AP-SA02 had trends toward rapid normalization of C-reactive protein, shorter time to negative blood culture, shorter ICU and hospital stay. (Table 2) Conclusion The intravenous bacteriophage cocktail, AP-SA02, combined with BAT, had a higher and earlier cure rate compared to placebo in patients with complicated SAB at day 12, at post BAT, and EOS as assessed by both blinded site investigators and independent adjudicators. AP-SA02 appears safe with clinical efficacy against both MRSA and MSSA and trends toward earlier resolution, shorter hospitalization, and no evidence of relapse 4 weeks post-therapy. Results strongly support proceeding to a Phase III trial of this novel bacteriophage cocktail for SAB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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Journal
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofaf695.022
Primary Topic
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
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article
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549. A Phase 2a Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of an Intravenous (IV) Bacteriophage Cocktail (AP-SA02) vs. Placebo in Combination with Best Available Antibiotic Therapy (BAT) in Patients with Complicated Staphyl

Fowler Vg, J Njeri Wainaina, Nirja Mehta, Pierre Kyme et al.
Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
article

549. A Phase 2a Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of an Intravenous (IV) Bacteriophage Cocktail (AP-SA02) vs. Placebo in Combination with Best Available Antibiotic Therapy (BAT) in Patients with Complicated Staphyl

Fowler Vg, J Njeri Wainaina, Nirja Mehta, Pierre Kyme, Jonathan R. Iredell, Stacey L. Kolar, J. Williamson, Deena R. Altman, Deborah Lawson, Mehdi S. Mirsaeidi, José Antonio Vázquez, Saima Aslam, Paul R Allyn, Paul F Riska, John Sanders, D Alexander Perry, Gary P Wang, Colleen S Kraft, Loren G Miller, Jihoon Baang, Lindsay Nicholson
article en

Abstract

Abstract Background Complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a serious, common, and frequently lethal infection. Treatment options are complicated by resistance, drug intolerance, or relapse. Novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Methods We performed a phase 2a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of an IV bacteriophage cocktail, AP-SA02, q6 hrs x 5 days vs. placebo (2:1 ratio) in combination with BAT in patients with complicated SAB. Clinical response (Table 1) was assessed in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population at Test of Cure (TOC) on Day 12, post-BAT, and End of Study (EOS) four weeks after BAT completion. Safety analysis included data from the Phase 1b trial (n=8). Results We enrolled 42 patients from 17 sites (95% US), with 29 randomized to AP-SA02 (A) and 13 to placebo (P). MRSA was the pathogen in 39% of the (A) and 44% (P) groups, respectively. Site of infection and antibiotics used were similar for both arms. (Table 2). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 6% (2/35) and 0% (0/15) in the (A) and (P) groups, respectively. (Table 3). Day 12 clinical response rates were 88% (21/24) in SA-PA02 vs. 58% (7/12) in the placebo (p = 0.047) as assessed by blinded site investigators (PI), and 83% (20/24) vs. 58% (7/12) as assessed by the blinded Adjudication Committee (AC). At post-BAT and EOS, non-response/relapse rate was 0% and 0% in the (A) group by both PI and AC assessment compared to 23% by AC and 25% PI in the (P) group (p < 0.025, Figure 1). Patients on AP-SA02 had trends toward rapid normalization of C-reactive protein, shorter time to negative blood culture, shorter ICU and hospital stay. (Table 2) Conclusion The intravenous bacteriophage cocktail, AP-SA02, combined with BAT, had a higher and earlier cure rate compared to placebo in patients with complicated SAB at day 12, at post BAT, and EOS as assessed by both blinded site investigators and independent adjudicators. AP-SA02 appears safe with clinical efficacy against both MRSA and MSSA and trends toward earlier resolution, shorter hospitalization, and no evidence of relapse 4 weeks post-therapy. Results strongly support proceeding to a Phase III trial of this novel bacteriophage cocktail for SAB. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Open Forum Infectious DiseasesVol. 13(Supplement_1)
Froedtert Hospital (US), Montefiore Medical Center (US), Reata Pharmaceuticals (United States) (US), Emory University (US), Henry Ford Health System (US), Augusta University (US), University of Michigan (US), UCLA Health (US), University of Florida Health (US), Banner Health (US), Westmead Hospital (AU), University of Florida (US), Jacksonville University (US), University of California San Diego (US), Ann Arbor VA Medical Center (US), Banner - University Medical Center Tucson (US), Duke Medical Center (US), Westmead Institute for Medical Research (AU), Rocky Mountain MS Center (US), Wake Forest University (US), University of Florida Health Science Center (US), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 92%
Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
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