Government’s response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report ‘The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages

The UK government has responded to the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on the potential of phages as antimicrobials. The report acknowledges the scale of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impacts on public health, animal health, food security, and the economy. The government has committed to developing a series of 5-year national action plans (NAP) to tackle AMR, focusing on reducing the need for and unintentional exposure to antimicrobials, optimizing the use of antimicrobials, and investing in innovation, supply, and access. The committee’s recommendations on phages as an alternative to antimicrobials are divided into four themes: phage safety, efficacy, manufacturing phages, phage clinical trials, and clinical use of phages in the UK. The government is committed to taking a ‘One Health’ approach to tackling AMR, including considering the potential for phage use and regulation in animals. The responses have been collated by officials within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) with input from relevant government departments and agencies.