iNtRON Biotechnology, a biotech company, has announced a formal contract between its New Drug Part and the U.S. Army DEVCOM (U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command) International Technology Center Indo-Pacific and Soldier Center. The contract aims to collaborate on the development of bacteriophages for combatting Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infections.

DEVCOM, a subcommand of the U.S. Army Futures Command, is dedicated to advancing innovative technology to enhance the combat and survival capabilities of the U.S. military. One of its projects focuses on developing products to address the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) among soldiers in austere environments, such as deployment or training.

Despite using various methods, including synthetic antibiotics, to treat UTIs, challenges like antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections persist. Through interactions with key DEVCOM personnel, the organization became acquainted with iNtRON's bacteriophage platform technology. Following thorough technological assessments and research planning, the project has been selected under the U.S. Army FTAS (Foreign Technology Assessment Support) program.

Dr. SON, Ji-soo, the head of the BD Department, emphasized that UTIs often require prolonged antibiotic treatment. However, in environments where continuous antibiotic usage is impractical, there is a significant risk of recurrence and chronicity. Bacteriophages have the potential to address the limitations of conventional antibiotics, making them highly suitable for combating UTIs. He also mentioned that the UPEC project with DEVCOM will proceed through various stages, including feasibility demonstrations, potential pilot product development, small-scale clinical trials, regulatory approval, and final product development. In this project, iNtRON will initially focus on developing bacteriophages targeting UPEC, with DEVCOM providing support for the initial feasibility demonstration through the funded program.

Mr. YOON, Kyung-won, CEO of iNtRON, emphasized the significance of the UPEC project as an official contract with a U.S. government agency. He sees it as a potential entry point into the U.S. defense market. Furthermore, the goal is to expand into large-scale projects involving clinical trials and product development in the future while establishing a strong relationship with the U.S. Army.