Locus Biosciences Announces Collaboration with Viatris to Develop Antibacterial Therapies for Ophthalmic Infections
Locus Biosciences announced a research collaboration agreement with Viatris to develop novel engineered bacteriophage therapies targeting ophthalmic bacterial infections.
While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Locus and Viatris said they will work together to advance precision antibacterial therapeutics for serious eye infections, which the companies describe as a growing area of unmet medical need amid rising global rates of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Locus’s proprietary bacteriophage engineering platform integrates predictive artificial intelligence (AI), high-throughput robotics, and synthetic biology to create precision phage cocktails capable of selectively eliminating pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial microbiota.
According to Locus, by combining Viatris’s expertise in ophthalmic product development and commercialization with Locus’s phage engineering technology, the collaboration aims to deliver next-generation antibacterial therapies that address the limitations of traditional antibiotics.
“This partnership with Viatris marks a significant milestone for Locus as we bring our world-leading bacteriophage therapy platform to ophthalmology,” said Paul Garofolo, Co-founder and CEO of Locus Biosciences. “Targeted therapies are urgently needed to address the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in eye infections. We’re proud to work with Viatris to accelerate the development of new precision medicines for patients in need.”
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most urgent global health challenges, with antibiotic-resistant infections affecting millions annually. Ophthalmic infections, particularly those caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria, can lead to serious complications, including vision loss and surgical failure. Phage therapy—using viruses that specifically target and destroy bacteria—offers a novel and highly targeted approach to overcoming antibiotic resistance. Locus’s platform is designed to harness this natural mechanism while enhancing precision and safety through synthetic biology-driven engineering.