Armata Pharmaceuticals maps atomic structure of Pseudomonas-killing phage

The research, led by Armata Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, utilized cryo-electron microscopy to capture three distinct states of the Ar-KM particle. By building atomic models for eleven structural proteins, the team identified a specific enzymatic activity that allows the phage to breach the bacterial cell envelope. This mechanism is critical for the development of AP-PA02, an inhaled therapeutic candidate currently moving through clinical trials for cystic fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis patients.

Dr. Deborah Birx, CEO of Armata, noted that the findings bridge fundamental phage biology with practical drug development. The study marks the fourth collaboration between Armata and the laboratory of Dr. Gino Cingolani, with the team now expanding these high-resolution structural analyses to include proprietary Staphylococcus aureus phages. This structural data, supported by Armata’s specialized purification processes, aims to standardize the design of next-generation anti-infective therapies.