One of them could be bacteriophages, viruses that attack bacteria without harming people. So-called bacteriophage therapy had its heyday from 1920 to 1940, before it was pushed aside by penicillin. The former Soviet Union is the only place it continues to be used today. Most Western doctors do not even know that this method exists. However, there are some scientists who have resumed research on bacteriophage therapy, and that's a good thing. We need to pursue any and every approach that can contribute to solving the resistance crisis. Bacteriophage therapy may prove to be a particularly worthwhile area of research. Its long history provides a large stock of knowledge that is freely accessible. Determined researchers now need to use this as a starting point and work out how to turn bacteriophages into drugs that meet today's standards. This would be best carried out in cooperation with science departments at universities, along with private companies and non-profit foundations that support the projects. This is exactly the goal of the Foundation for Fatal Rare Diseases. The foundation supports the development of drugs for neglected infectious and pulmonary diseases and is especially committed to helping affected patients who have not been in the public eye, particularly those in Africa and India. Thomas H

Vaduz, October 2005
Vera Cavalli, Dorian Bevec and Fabio Cavalli
Founders of the Foundation for Fatal Rare Diseases