. Ghana & Korea: Landmark "Phage Therapy" Deal Signed | manilatimes
In a landmark scientific collaboration, the West Africa Centre for Innovative Research and Care (WAFCIRC) and South Korea’s biotechnology company MicrobiotiX have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin clinical research on bacteriophage-based therapies aimed at killing antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” The agreement, formalized in Kumasi on Thursday, marks a major step in Africa’s fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a growing global health crisis that disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries.
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and destroy specific bacteria, offering a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics that are increasingly failing against drug-resistant pathogens. Under the collaboration, WAFCIRC and MicrobiotiX will launch clinical trials in Ghana, analyzing patient samples from a range of infectious diseases and assessing the safety and effectiveness of phage-based therapeutic candidates in real-world settings.
The partnership will involve four clinical sites across Ghana, where WAFCIRC will lead study execution including patient engagement, clinical operations and data management while MicrobiotiX supplies its bacteriophage therapeutic candidates, manufactured at its own Good Manufacturing Practice facility, along with funding and technical documentation to support implementation.
Dr Dongeun Yong, CEO of MicrobiotiX, said the collaboration represents a strategic expansion of the company’s clinical research footprint beyond Asia, bringing innovative phage therapies to populations with significant unmet medical needs. “Our goal is not only to develop new therapeutics, but to establish a scalable model for clinically advancing phage therapies in partnership with local institutions,” Yong said at the signing ceremony attended by scientists and health officials from both countries.
Dr John Adabie, Director of WAFCIRC, described antimicrobial resistance as a “daily clinical reality” in the region and said the agreement brings a promising modality into a locally led research framework. He added that embedding phage studies within Ghanaian health institutions would ensure emerging treatments address real patient needs and health-system realities on the ground.
AMR occurs when microbes evolve to withstand antibiotics, making infections harder and sometimes impossible to treat. In Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa, limited access to effective antibiotics combined with high disease burden has amplified the impact of drug-resistant infections, prompting urgent calls for novel therapies and strengthened health infrastructure.
While bacteriophage therapy has been explored in parts of Europe and Asia, its clinical evaluation in Africa remains limited. This collaboration aims to generate robust clinical evidence that could support broader regulatory consideration and integration of phage-based options into treatment protocols, complementing efforts to improve antimicrobial stewardship and reduce reliance on conventional drugs.
Experts say that if successful, the Ghana trials could pave the way for wider adoption of phage therapies across the continent, especially in settings where AMR challenges are most acute. The initiative also seeks to strengthen regional research capacity by fostering technology transfer, training and long-term partnerships between African health institutions and international biotech firms.
The WAFCIRC–MicrobiotiX agreement reflects broader global interest in phage therapy and a growing recognition that addressing AMR will require innovative, multi-pronged solutions spanning surveillance, new drugs and alternative therapeutic strategies.
