Lucilia Pharma

Next generation antimicrobials to treat AMR based on insect evolutionary success

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

“Antimicrobial drugs are becoming less effective and the world is not developing enough new ones to keep up. The global costs if we do not take action now could be 10 million people dying every year by 2050, and a cumulative economic cost of around 100 trillion USD.”
O’Neill Report 2016

Lucilia is now bringing together multiple Welsh partners to unlock the evolutionary power of insects as a novel source to find new therapies to address the impending AMR crisis.

Medicinal Maggots (Lucilia sericata)

We have been researching for over a decade into the antibacterial and antifungal properties of low molecular weight substances produced by medicinal maggots now widely used clinically for the treatment of intractable wounds.

Our Projects

SERATICIN

A broad spectrum low molecular weight antibacterial substance from Lucilia sericata
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SERATIFUNGIN

A low molecular weight antifungal substance from Lucilia sericata
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OTHER INSECT SPECIES

We are beginning the process of breeding other species of flies, beetles, etc. that rear their larvae in highly rich bacterial environments to explore other low molecular weight antimicrobials.
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INSECT-INSPIRED SYNTHETICS

Chemically synthesized antimicrobials inspired by active substances isolated from insects.
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