Clients with projects that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria or food-borne bacteria come to Paragon for process development and large-scale manufacturing of bacteriophages.

All work is performed at Paragon's specialized facility geographically segregated from all other operations - at the company's laboratory located at the JH Bayview Research Campus.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated that, annually, 76 million people become ill, another 300,000 are hospitalized and more than 5,000 die from eating food contaminated with a food-borne pathogen such as E.coli, Listeria and Salmonella.

Bacteriophage solutions are currently being used to eliminate contamination from the food and water supply. Their use in pharmaceutical initiatives provides relief from bacterial infections and helps solve a variety of human problems without the adverse affects of some traditional antibiotics. They also have multiple applications and advantages for pathogen control in the agricultural, industrial and biodefense sectors as well.

Since 2000, Paragon Bioservices has been helping clients with the process development and large-scale production and purification of bacteriophages. We help scientists develop safe solutions for infectious disease, food safety and human and animal therapeutics.

All work is performed at Paragon’s specialized facility—geographically segregated from all other operations—at the company’s facility located at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Research Campus in Baltimore, MD.
Contact us to discuss your needs or to request a customer proposal.

More about Bacteriophages
Phages, short for bacteriophages, are viruses that kill bacteria. They are found everywhere in nature and are environmentally safe and very effective—as each phage has a “target” bacteria that it can infect (for example, “bacteriophage T4” will kill only E.coli). Also—unlike traditional antibiotics—bacteria cannot develop a resistance to phages. The phages evolve right along with them.

Like antibiotics, lytic phages have remarkable antibacterial activity and can be used to treat patients with chronic, drug-resistant or difficult to treat infections. Phages have been used to treat conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, tropic ulcers, osteomyelitis, and drug-resistant infections such as MRSA or VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci)—the most common type of infection acquired during hospitalization. While antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” multiply by dividing in two, the “phage” produces about 200 offspring for every superbug killed.

Since bacteriophage are “bacteria eaters”, they have been used since 1915 to cure human, animal and plant infections and to eliminate contamination from the food supply—from vegetables to meats.

Therapeutic phage preparations were produced during the 1930’s and 40’s by well-know pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly. However, the advent of antibiotics in 1941 caused interest in phage therapy to decline in the West.

This interest in phage therapy has been rekindled with the alarming emergence of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”. (Our reliance on antibiotics eventually caught up with us, as stronger antibiotics forced bacteria to evolve into drug-resistant strains.) The use of bacteriophages reduces the risk of bacterial infections from pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureas (including MRSA) and helps hospitals prevent outbreaks of deadly diseases—a growing global concern. They help prevent life-threatening infections for both immune-compromised patients—as well as health care personnel.

Many scientists feel that bacteriophages have the capability to neutralize bacteria-based biological threats and extremely dangerous pathogens that may be used as weapons. It is also used in human therapeutics to treat wound infections in both the military and civilian populations.

Some US companies have also been using bacteriophage technology to improve human health through the development and commercialization of products for food safety—significantly reducing food contamination by protecting food against E.coli, Salmonella and Shigella. It has protected our water supply and is also used in sanitation.

Bacteriophage applications have been used in industry as well—for the treatment and sanitation of facilities and equipment, providing a clean alternative to toxic chemicals that adversely affect the environment and human health.

• Contact us to discuss your needs or to request a custom proposal.