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Cytophage Provides Bacteriophages for Landmark Treatment of Joint Replacement Infection in Canada



Cytophage Technologies Ltd.
 

Winnipeg – TheNewswire - March 1, 2024 — Cytophage Technologies Ltd. (“Cytophage” or the “Company”) (TSXV:CYTO) is pleased to announce that it is collaborating with infectious diseases clinician-scientist, Dr. Marisa Azad (Principal Investigator), at The Ottawa Hospital to deliver – for the first time in Canada – bacteriophage (phage) therapy to a patient suffering from a severe hardware-associated bone and joint infection, with approval from Health Canada and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

The applicability of phage therapy to prosthetic joint infections has been a core area of research for Cytophage.  In late 2023, Cytophage was contacted by Dr. Azad who had a patient suffering from an antibiotic resistant infection associated with a prosthetic joint replacement. A treatment plan was developed and approved by The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Health Canada to be delivered as a single subject clinical trial (N of 1).  This allows for an individual patient to be the sole unit of observation in a study investigating the efficacy of a course of treatment when all other treatments have failed. The patient received the first dose this week and will continue to receive treatments for two weeks.    The treatment plan includes phages that have been exclusively provided by Cytophage and have been rigorously tested for their ability to destroy MRSE (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis) bacteria.  

 

 “This is an important breakthrough for people who suffer from drug-resistant prosthetic joint infections in that a new treatment regime is being introduced that will target these difficult to treat infections” says Dr. Steven Theriault, CEO of Cytophage. “We hope to make a significant difference in the quality of life of patients who are living with this type of infection.”

 

According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), over 130,000 hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed every year in Canada. Although effective in restoring function and improving quality of life, about 3% of surgeries may require additional intervention in the form of treatment of antibiotic resistant prosthetic joint infections, a devastating complication that, if left unresolved, can lead to amputation and even death.

 

Cytophage acknowledges the tremendous work of Dr. Azad and the team at The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. The Company is optimistic that this will be the first of a series of N of 1 studies for prosthetic joint infections, as well as also other difficult to treat infections.

 

As Dr. Theriault notes, “While Cytophage’s current focus remains on animal health and improving food security, the use of our phages in the treatment of human infections reinforces the potential of bacteriophages as an efficient alternative and/or complement to antibiotics.”

Cytophage is also announcing that it has entered into a marketing and market awareness agreement (the "Agreement") with the CanaCom Group. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the services are to be provided over a 12-month period, commencing on February 12, 2024, for a fee of $90,000, plus applicable taxes. CanaCom is a full-service marketing agency based in Toronto, Ontario. CanaCom provides digital marketing awareness via advertising through its fully owned platform theDeepDive.ca, which includes both video and written content coverage of Canadian small-cap stories. CanaCom holds approximately 60,316 of the Company's outstanding common shares and is otherwise an arm's length service provider to the Company. CanaCom has its principal place of business at 1836 Scarth Street, Regina, SK S4P 3G3. They can be contacted at jay@thedeepdive.ca or by telephone at (306) 993-4791.

For media inquiries:

 

Heather Medwick

Chief Operating Officer

heather@cytophage.com

431 388 8873

 

About Cytophage

 

Cytophage is a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to bacteriophage research, product development and commercialization. Committed to addressing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance, Cytophage advances innovative products that harness the power of bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections affecting human health, animal health, and food security.

 

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

 

This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Cytophage to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cytophage’s Filing Statement dated January 30, 2024, which is available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include but are not limited to, the risks associated with the bacteriophage industry, such as operational risks in development or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of extensive regulatory approval requirements, government regulations, protection of intellectual property, product liability and rapid technological advancements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release, and Cytophage disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management’s estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.