PHIOGEN

Rule #1 of biotech investing: "avoid antimicrobials" ?? Wait, really? It sure seems that way, and it's a problem. But does it have to be? In 2023, knowing full well the 'antibiotic pipeline is broken', the PHIOGEN team started a phage therapy company anyway. I wanted to know why. On this week's Podovirus Podcast, Joseph Campbell & I talked to Amanda (Curtis) Burkardt & Mayukh Das, CEO & COO of PHIOGEN (a spinout of Baylor College of Medicine's phage therapy center, TAILOR Labs). In the end, they convinced me there's a way — I hope this inspires others building in AMR, or any space where the science is there, but economics are tough. ?? First, has it been tough raising funds for a phage therapy company? Yes. Amanda says: "As soon as VCs hear 'infectious disease,' their eyes get big. When they hear 'antibacterial,' even bigger. When we say 'not small molecule'... all alarm bells ring" ?? Antibiotics have been cheap, but that's partly why the math hasn't worked. They're a one-time cure, & we restrict their use. But is there a precedent for a 'premium' antimicrobial? Yes. Recent approvals of Live Biologic Products for C. diff show ~$10k/treatment is possible. ?? Are they waiting for legislation changes to save them? No. While the PASTEUR Act would really help (& the UK version has reassured investors), PHIOGEN is building a business case for the current environment. (It would be icing on the ?? if PASTEUR passes, though!) ?? Will phage therapies be reimburseable? Medicare sets the standard on this, but no one had really asked them... Until now. The PHIOGEN team recently got confirmation from Medicare (CMS) that they want to be involved in phage development WAY earlier than anyone realized. ?? To sum it up, Phiogen's approach involves: 1) Making phages that work more reliably in the body, not just the lab (they screen in presence of bodily fluids & find phages others overlook) 2) Finding indications where the price point is high enough for the math to make sense - following footsteps of C. diff drugs - working with medicare to carve out reimbursement pathways early 3) Learning EVERYTHING they can about why past antibiotic companies went bankrupt (they don't HAVE to fail like this, & these failures have been analyzed publicly — e.g. surprise costs AFTER approval helped tank Achaogen) ?? Required reading: https://lnkd.in/gQtzYmmQ ?? So is it possible to make a successful antimicrobial, in this market? Amanda believes it is: "As long as people are dying & there are unmet medical needs, it is doable. Getting the business model to support that is going to be more challenging, but this is a real problem." ?? Listen to the full episode for more nuggets of wisdom from Amanda & Mayukh on: ? Reimbursement & pricing strategies ? UK's antibiotic subscription model ? Why phage might escape antibiotics' fate Check out the podcast on Spotify & Youtube; links below!

Had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Burkardt and Kenny Simmen (not officially on the PHIOGEN team, but cheering like it’s game seven of the World Series) during JPM in San Francisco. We discussed one of the least glamorous but most expensive crises in healthcare—AMR urinary tract infections. Now, UTIs aren’t just an inconvenience. No, they’re a $6 billion-a-year global healthcare sinkhole, with over 150 million cases annually. The problem? Antibiotic resistance is eating patent life like a hungry teenager, and Big Pharma would rather develop the next billion-dollar weight loss drug than touch antimicrobials before regulators come knocking. And yet, here’s PHIOGEN, actually fixing the problem—creating an immunizing therapeutic that treats infections and prevents them from coming back. A completely new modality for recurrent and drug-resistant infections! In an industry where antibiotic innovation is treated like a Broadway play about the IRS, Amanda is fighting against all odds. This is the kind of biotech leadership we need. Investors, are you listening? #AMR #UTI #JPM2025 #BiotechShowcase

Last week marked the final meeting of Springboard Enterprises healthcare program and PHIOGEN's journey in the accelerator, and with that, we transition from a biopharma in the program to an alumna of this incredible network. It’s a bittersweet moment—closing one chapter but stepping into an ever-expanding community of powerhouse women entrepreneurs. The Springboard Healthcare & Technology Accelerator has been nothing short of transformative. From the #SpringboardGala at #NASDAQ in #NYC to our #JPM Pitch and Demo Day in #SanFran, the opportunities to showcase our venture and connect with industry leaders were unparalleled. I am incredibly grateful for my lead advisor, Deanna Angello, who dedicated her time and expertise to helping me navigate the complexities of developing impactful therapeutics, offering strategic guidance that reshaped my approach in meaningful ways. Likewise, a huge thank you to my other advisors who advocated on my behalf and generously networked me into their community Manasa Gummalla, Suzanne Szymanski, Amy Davis, Jennifer Beecham, Lee Rauch and Deborah Smith. This could not have happened with out Amani Bright or Miranda Ewald for their relentless diligence and coordination, ensuring everything ran smoothly behind the scenes and under Julie Silverstein's leadership. And, of course, to Kay Koplovitz, whose vision and commitment to funding and fostering this community have empowered so many of us to raise and rise. Lastly, the best part to come out the accelerator are the incredible CEO's I’ve had the privilege of meeting—trailblazers in their own right, each driving impact in healthcare and beyond. The power of this network isn’t just in the resources but in the relationships that I have built along the way. As I step forward as a Springboard alumna, I’m reminded that success isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about holding the door open for the next wave of women innovators. Who's next? If you're not tracking these ladies, you should be: Nathalya Mamane at RT MicroDx Pahini P. at Panakeia Amy Urban DMD at Harmony Appliance Cheri Ackerman at Concerto Biosciences Adrianna Cantu at Revealix Phuong Jean Pham at Cellens Inc Martha Sklavos PhD, PMP at Aloe Therapeutics Julie B. Kennedy at RubyWell Rachel RongShwen GweeRachel Braun ScherlLiz PowellCarolee LeeElizabeth Crocker RN MHA MSc BSN BScEileen TanghalMaria De SantisJulia McDowellAthena SheaAnne-Maree CantwellAbe Minkara

???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????????????????. ??? In this episode, James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, is joined by Amanda (Curtis) Burkardt, CEO of PHIOGEN, a company focused on patient-centric solutions. They are currently developing innovative treatments to address recurrent and drug-resistant infections, particularly the debilitating recurrent urinary tract infections that disproportionately affect women. PHIOGEN is in the process of fundraising to prepare for clinical trials. If any investors are interested, please contact Amanda at [email protected]. ? More about BIO on the BAYOU: www.bioonthebayou.com ?? Save the Date for BotB2025: Oct 28th?& 29th, 2025 ? More about Bullpen Club: https://bullpen.ventures/ ?? Upcoming event: JPM Week in San Francisco January 13-16, 2025 https://lnkd.in/gWvG5CfD ??Thank you to our sponsors?? D3 Digital Media Marketing Bullpen Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Auburn University University of Mississippi Tulane University School of Medicine Xavier University of Louisiana James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP #Bullpen #BioOnTheBayou #USA #Phiogen #Science #Biotech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #TulaneUniversity #UniversityOfMississippi

?? Exciting milestone for #phages! INFARMED, I.P. has officially approved the use of phage therapy in Portugal. This groundbreaking decision allows #phagetherapy to be deployed not only to save lives but also to help reduce healthcare costs in Portuguese hospitals. With this move, Portugal becomes one of the pioneers worldwide in regulating the use of bacteriophages to combat #antibioticresistant infections — a new hope for many patients. Congrats, Portugal for leading the way!

Have you ever heard of bacteriophage therapy for recurrent UTI? Research has shown great promise in this area, and we're excited to announce that a clinical trial is planned for 2025. To provide more insight into phage therapy and how PHIOGEN's new phage products work, Amanda (Curtis) Burkardt and Mayukh Das discussed the following questions in our recent video interview: ?? What is bacteriophage therapy? ?? Could phage therapy be used anywhere in the body, for instance, the bladder, vagina or respiratory system? ?? Does there need to be a certain level of bacteria present in order for phage therapy to work? ?? Can they kill bacteria embedded within the bladder wall, or in biofilms? ?? What makes someone more or less likely to be a good candidate for phage therapy? ?? Do you need to be able to culture someone’s infection in order to develop the right phages for therapy? ?? How long does it take to eradicate a chronic UTI with phage therapy? ?? Are there any potential side effects of phage therapy? ?? Can phages negatively impact the good organisms in the normal microbiome? ?? How will people be able to participate in PHIOGEN’s clinical trial? Watch the full interview over on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ewQDcyNb