Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Size, Share, and Trends Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Size

• The Europe bacteriophages therapy market size was valued at USD 16.09 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 23.95 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period
• The market growth is primarily driven by the urgent need for alternatives to traditional antibiotics due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Europe, fostering renewed interest in phage-based therapeutics
• In addition, increasing clinical research activities, government support, and advancements in precision medicine are bolstering the development and acceptance of bacteriophage therapy. These factors collectively position bacteriophage therapy as a transformative solution for bacterial infections, accelerating the market’s expansion across the region

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Analysis

• Bacteriophage therapy, which leverages viruses that infect and kill specific bacteria, is becoming an increasingly essential alternative to antibiotics in Europe’s fight against antimicrobial resistance, particularly in both clinical and research-based healthcare environments due to its precision, safety, and ability to treat resistant infections
• The growing demand for bacteriophage therapy is primarily fueled by the alarming rise in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, supportive European health policies, and expanding investments in personalized medicine and biologics
• Germany dominated the bacteriophage therapy market with the largest revenue share of 30.5% in 2024, driven by its advanced healthcare infrastructure, government-backed innovation programs, and strong presence of biotechnology firms engaged in phage research and development
• Poland is expected to be the fastest growing country in the Europe bacteriophage therapy market during the forecast period due to its historic foundation in phage therapy, increasing clinical application, and growing international collaborations in antimicrobial research
• The wound and skin infections segment dominated the Europe bacteriophage therapy market with a market share of 39% in 2024, attributed to high efficacy in treating chronic, antibiotic-resistant wounds and increasing clinical adoption in post-surgical care

Report Scope and Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Segmentation    

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Trends

“Advancing Precision Medicine and Personalized Bacterial Treatments”

• A key and rapidly emerging trend in the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is the integration of phage therapy with precision medicine approaches, enabling personalized bacterial infection treatment based on patient-specific microbiological profiles. This trend is transforming traditional infection management by leveraging phages tailored to target specific resistant bacterial strains
  • For instance, in Germany and France, biotech firms are collaborating with academic institutions to develop customized phage cocktails for patients with persistent or drug-resistant infections, particularly in cases where antibiotic treatments have failed
• The ability to isolate and engineer phages for particular bacterial pathogens enables clinicians to achieve higher therapeutic success rates while reducing the risk of disrupting healthy microbiota. Leading institutions such as the Eliava Institute (Georgia) are offering personalized phage formulations exported across Europe, supporting this trend
• Moreover, advancements in phage genome sequencing and bioinformatics tools are enhancing the identification and safety profiling of therapeutic phages, making them more adaptable to clinical practice. This includes evaluating phage-bacteria interactions and optimizing treatment protocols based on infection sites
• These innovations are further supported by regulatory encouragement from bodies such as the EMA, which are exploring adaptive frameworks to facilitate the clinical use of personalized bacteriophage preparations
• The rising demand for targeted, effective, and low-resistance risk solutions is expected to expand the reach of personalized phage therapy across both hospital settings and outpatient care, particularly in treating chronic infections and immunocompromised patients

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Dynamics

Driver

“Escalating Antibiotic Resistance and Regulatory Support for Alternative Therapies”

• The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Europe is a major driver behind the increased interest in bacteriophage therapy, as conventional antibiotics lose efficacy against drug-resistant bacterial infections
  • For instance, Germany’s Ministry of Health and EU-funded programs have launched several research initiatives aimed at integrating phage therapy into mainstream antimicrobial strategies
• Phages offer a highly specific and adaptable approach to infection control, particularly in treating chronic and recurrent infections in healthcare settings, such as wound, bone, and urinary tract infections
• Growing public and private funding, along with collaboration between research institutions and biotech companies, is accelerating the clinical development of phage-based treatments
• With countries such as France, Belgium, and Poland launching pilot projects for clinical phage therapy use, the regulatory and institutional support is creating a strong foundation for market expansion

Restraint/Challenge

“Complex Regulatory Pathways and Limited Standardization”

• One of the major challenges facing the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is the absence of a unified regulatory framework, leading to inconsistencies in approval, manufacturing, and clinical application across different countries
  • For instance, while Georgia and Poland have more flexible pathways allowing clinical phage use, most EU countries still treat bacteriophages as investigational products, limiting broad clinical access
• The lack of standardized protocols for phage production, characterization, and storage hinders scalability and complicates integration into traditional pharmaceutical supply chains
• In addition, variability in patient response and the need for personalized phage matching require complex diagnostics and longer preparation times, making it harder to compete with fast-acting antibiotics
• Overcoming these barriers through harmonized regulatory guidance, centralized phage banks, and cross-border research initiatives will be critical for unlocking the full market potential of bacteriophage therapy across Europe

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Scope

The market is segmented on the basis of target, type, base, disease indication, application, route of administration, end-user, and distribution channel.

• By Target

On the basis of target, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into escherichia coli, staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas, salmonella, and others. The Staphylococcus segment dominated the market with the largest market revenue share of 27.6% in 2024, driven by the high prevalence of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, particularly MRSA, in hospitals and surgical care settings. Its adaptability and impact on skin, bone, and bloodstream infections make it a primary target for phage-based interventions across Europe.

The Pseudomonas segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate of 20.8% from 2025 to 2032, fueled by rising cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis and ventilator-associated pneumonia, as well as growing resistance to traditional antibiotics in critical care units.

• By Type

On the basis of type, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into lytic and lysogenic bacteriophages. The Lytic segment dominated the market with the largest market revenue share of 81.4% in 2024, due to its ability to rapidly lyse bacterial cells, its safety profile, and its suitability for therapeutic use. Lytic phages are favored in clinical settings for their targeted bactericidal action without integration into host DNA.

The Lysogenic segment is expected witness fastest growth during forecast period, as it is more relevant to research and academic applications due to concerns over gene transfer and limited immediate bactericidal impact.

• By Base

On the basis of base, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into sterile broth culture and water-soluble jelly base. The Sterile Broth Culture segment held the largest market revenue share of 66.9% in 2024, owing to its widespread use in oral and injectable phage formulations, ease of scaling for mass production, and compatibility with clinical-grade purity standards.

The Water-Soluble Jelly Base segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2032, particularly in topical therapies for wound and skin infections, due to its ease of application, local delivery efficiency, and minimal systemic absorption.

• By Disease Indication

On the basis of disease indication, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into urinary tract infections, chronic otitis, dental extraction, chronic ulcerative colitis, bone infection, wound and skin infections, cystic fibrosis, and other. The Wound and Skin Infections segment dominated the market with the largest market revenue share of 39% in 2024, attributed to its high therapeutic success in chronic, antibiotic-resistant wounds and post-operative infections. Clinical adoption is growing due to the localized effectiveness and reduced risk of adverse effects.

The Cystic Fibrosis segment is expected to register the fastest growth rate during forecast period, as phage aerosol therapies and targeted lung infection treatments gain momentum in ongoing European clinical trials and compassionate use programs.

• By Application

On the basis of application, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into bacterial dysentery, infections of skin and nasal mucosa, suppurative skin infection, lung and pleural infections, postoperative wound infections, and others. The Postoperative Wound Infections segment dominated the market with the largest market revenue share of 23.4% in 2024, driven by increased incidence of surgical site infections and the need for alternatives to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Hospitals are adopting phage therapy as a supplemental or rescue treatment in complicated cases.

The Lung and Pleural Infections segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, owing to increasing development of inhalable phage treatments for hospital-acquired respiratory infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.

• By Route of Administration

On the basis of route of administration, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into oral, parenteral, rectal, dermal, and others. The Oral segment dominated the market with the largest market revenue share of 41.7% in 2024, due to its convenience, patient compliance, and effectiveness in treating gastrointestinal and systemic bacterial infections. It is widely preferred in outpatient care and early-stage trials.

The Dermal segment is anticipated to witness strong growth from 2025 to 2032, particularly in wound management and dermatological applications, where localized phage application proves effective and non-invasive.

• By End-User

On the basis of end-user, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, academic research and institutes, and others. The Hospitals segment accounted for the largest market revenue share of 48.2% in 2024, driven by the concentration of clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and compassionate use cases across European healthcare facilities. Hospitals also serve as the primary point for administering personalized phage treatments.

The Academic Research and Institutes segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2032, supported by funding for antimicrobial research and the establishment of phage banks in leading countries such as Germany and France.

• By Distribution Channel

On the basis of distribution channel, the Europe bacteriophage therapy market is segmented into direct tender and third party distributors. The Direct Tender segment led the market with the largest revenue share of 56.4% in 2024, as hospitals and public health organizations procure phage therapy products directly from biotech firms and research centers through contractual agreements. This route is commonly used in pilot projects and hospital-administered therapies.

The Third Party Distributors segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2032, particularly in research and cross-border collaborations, where small-scale and investigational phage products are supplied to laboratories and specialty clinics.

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Regional Analysis

• Germany dominated the bacteriophage therapy market with the largest revenue share of 30.5% in 2024, driven by its advanced healthcare infrastructure, government-backed innovation programs, and strong presence of biotechnology firms engaged in phage research and development
• The country’s leadership is supported by collaborations between universities, hospitals, and phage-focused startups, alongside robust healthcare infrastructure and early regulatory engagement, positioning Germany as the central hub for phage innovation in Europe
• In addition, Germany’s growing investments in personalized medicine and its early adoption of hospital-based phage therapy trials particularly for chronic wound care and orthopedic infections are accelerating the clinical integration and commercialization of bacteriophage treatments across the country

The Germany Bacteriophage Therapy Market Insight

The Germany bacteriophage therapy market captured the largest revenue share in the Europe bacteriophage therapy market in 2024, driven by its advanced biotech infrastructure, robust public health initiatives, and strong government and academic collaboration. The country leads in clinical research and personalized phage applications, particularly in chronic wound and orthopedic infections. In addition, the presence of specialized research institutes and early-stage regulatory engagement is reinforcing Germany's dominance in therapeutic development and clinical adoption.

France Bacteriophage Therapy Market Insight

The France bacteriophage therapy market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period, supported by national antimicrobial resistance strategies and a growing ecosystem of biotech companies focused on alternative therapies. Increased government-backed funding for phage clinical trials and innovation, coupled with a favorable environment for pharmaceutical research, is accelerating the country's market expansion, particularly in hospital-led infection management programs.

Poland Bacteriophage Therapy Market Insight

The Poland bacteriophage therapy market is experiencing notable growth in the bacteriophage therapy market due to its early clinical adoption and historical expertise in phage research, particularly at the Hirszfeld Institute. The country plays a pivotal role in developing and supplying personalized phage formulations for hard-to-treat infections. Rising demand for these therapies in both public and private healthcare sectors is contributing to Poland’s growing influence within the European market.

Belgium Bacteriophage Therapy Market Insight

The Belgium bacteriophage therapy market is gaining traction, bolstered by the nation’s efforts to formalize regulatory frameworks for phage medicinal products. Belgium’s progressive stance on compassionate use programs and its strong academic partnerships with EU-wide clinical trials are facilitating increased market penetration. Hospitals and research institutes in Belgium are playing a central role in advancing phage-based treatments, particularly for multi-drug-resistant infections.

Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market Share

The Europe Bacteriophages Therapy industry is primarily led by well-established companies, including:

• Pherecydes Pharma (France)
• NexaBiome (U.K.)
• Micreos B.V. (Netherlands)
• Eligo Bioscience (France)
• Proteon Pharmaceuticals S.A. (Poland)
• Technophage SA (Portugal)
• Phagomed Biopharma GmbH (Austria)
• Intesticult Ltd. (U.K.)
• Phage Futures Europe (U.K.)
• Enbiotix, Inc. (Germany)
• Aptadel Therapeutics S.L. (Spain)
• Nextbiotics UG (Germany)
• Locus Biosciences Europe GmbH (Germany)
• Bactolife ApS (Denmark)
• Intralytix Europe S.A.R.L. (France)
• NIZO Food Research (Netherlands)
• AQCure Biosciences GmbH (Germany)
• Aptorum Group Limited (U.K.)
• BiomX Inc. (Belgium)
• TargImmune Therapeutics AG (Switzerland)

What are the Recent Developments in Europe Bacteriophages Therapy Market?

• In May 2024, Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM) initiated a multi-center clinical trial in collaboration with several EU hospitals to evaluate inhalable phage therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients. This marks a significant step in expanding phage therapy applications beyond topical use, reinforcing Germany’s leadership in respiratory-targeted bacteriophage solutions and personalized treatment models
• In April 2024, France’s Pherecydes Pharma announced positive results from its Phase II clinical trial for phage therapy targeting prosthetic joint infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Conducted in partnership with French public hospitals, the study demonstrated strong safety and efficacy outcomes, supporting the advancement of phage products toward regulatory approval and commercialization in Europe
• In March 2024, Poland’s Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy expanded its national phage therapy program by establishing new regional phage therapy units across the country. This expansion aims to increase access to personalized phage treatment for patients with antibiotic-resistant infections and reflects Poland’s continued leadership in clinical phage therapy application
• In February 2024, the Belgian Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) published a new regulatory framework to facilitate the use of phage therapy under hospital exemption. The framework supports hospitals and pharmacies in producing personalized phage preparations for compassionate use, further positioning Belgium as a frontrunner in regulatory innovation for phage-based treatments
• In January 2024, the Netherlands’ Leiden University Medical Center launched a collaborative EU-funded project, Phage4Care, to develop standardized production and characterization protocols for therapeutic phages. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and market authorization, promoting greater scalability and reliability of phage therapy solutions across European healthcare systems

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