The Living Medicine

The fascinating and dramatic story of a forgotten, life-saving cure to conquer deadly bacterial infections - bacteriophages - and the remarkable scientists behind them

When antibiotics started to fail, the race to save humanity from deadly antibiotic-resistant infections began. Science journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals the remarkable history of bacteriophages or 'phages', through the colourful lives of the British, French, Soviet, and American scientists who discovered, developed, and are now reviving this unique living medicine for seemingly incurable diseases.

Starting with the original discovery of bacteriophages, or 'phages', in 1917, Zeldovich reveals how they were all but forgotten as antibiotics rose to medical stardom in the West, and Stalin purged leading scientists behind them in the former Soviet Union. It was only when patients started dying from antibiotic-resistant infections that those scientists who fled the former Soviet Union realised their unique knowledge of phages presented a safe and effective solution for the future of humanity. Today, new work has begun to develop this cure to safeguard our future.

Eye-opening, gripping, and impeccably researched, The Living Medicine is a remarkable portrayal of how curiosity, bravery, and collaboration seeded one of the most important scientific discoveries of our time.