PhageLab
PhageLab is a Chilean-founded biotechnology company that develops bacteriophage-based diagnostics and treatments to replace antibiotics in poultry and livestock, combining proprietary microbial libraries with machine-learning-based phage selection and NGS genomics. It sells direct to large Latin American producers and licenses technology to majors such as MSD Animal Health.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSantiago, Chile
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PhageLab does
PhageLab is a Chilean-founded biotechnology company developing bacteriophage-based products to control pathogenic bacteria in livestock and poultry as an alternative to antibiotics. Its technology combines proprietary collections of bacteria and phages (described as among the largest in the world), in vitro phage evolution, Next Generation Sequencing on Illumina and Nanopore platforms, and machine learning models that predict bacteria-phage interactions at strain level with 78-94% precision (published in Scientific Reports, Nature Portfolio). The platform is exposed commercially through three products: INSPEKTOR (diagnostic analysis of bacterial samples for virulence and antibiotic resistance), FÓRMIDA (machine-learning-selected phage cocktail application on-farm, primarily against E. coli in poultry and cattle), and PHAGEIN (a calf-diarrhea product licensed to and launched by MSD Animal Health in Brazil in May 2025).
The company monetizes through a mix of direct enterprise sales of phage products and on-farm diagnostic services, plus OEM/licensing royalties from animal-health majors such as MSD. It works directly with large poultry and livestock producers across Latin America via a field-sales motion that spans sampling, cocktail design, application training, and ongoing monitoring. Distribution also runs through licensing: PHAGEIN's commercial launch in Brazil is handled by MSD Animal Health, providing scale beyond PhageLab's own salesforce. Headcount is small (11-50, with a PhD-heavy scientific bench supported by ANID), and the company operates from Santiago (Chile HQ) and Curitiba (Brazil regional office) with disclosed funding of approximately $14.5M+ across a seed round, an $11M Series A (Jan-2024, Nazca and Collaborative Fund), and a US$3.5M+ convertible note (Dec-2025, Kaszek Ventures). Recent strategic emphasis is on geographic expansion (Brazil operationalized, US targeted), vertical diversification into cattle/dairy, and formal recognition including the WIPO Global Award 2025.
PhageLab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PhageLab
- Legal name
- PhageLab Chile SpA
- Website
- https://phage-lab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PhageLab is a Chilean-founded biotechnology company that develops bacteriophage-based diagnostics and treatments to replace antibiotics in poultry and livestock, combining proprietary microbial libraries with machine-learning-based phage selection and NGS genomics. It sells direct to large Latin American producers and licenses technology to majors such as MSD Animal Health.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PhageLab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Health Biotechnology
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antimicrobials & Anti-infectives (HLAMAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Livestock & Production Animal Therapeutics (Rx) (HLAMAEAB), Veterinary Pharmacy, Vaccine & Biologics Services (AFAEANAK), Non-Antibiotic Health & Performance Supplements (Immune, Gut Health, Stress/Heat Support) (AFADALAO), Diagnostics & Laboratory Coordination (Sample Collection, Lab Liaison, Interpretation) (AFACALAE)
Keywords
Where PhageLab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santiago
- HQ country
- Chile
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PhageLab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Bacteriophage Product Sales: Sale of phage-based solutions (INSPEKTOR, FÓRMIDA, PHAGEIN) to livestock and poultry producers for bacterial control. Products are applied on-farm with full support from PhageLab's field team.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of PhageLab-developed technology to major animal health companies. MSD Animal Health launched PHAGEIN in Brazil using PhageLab's technology for neonatal calf diarrhea, representing a licensing/royalty model.
- Diagnostic Services: Full analysis of bacterial samples providing actionable data on virulence, antibiotic resistance, and bacterial origins in industrial settings, supporting informed decision-making for clients.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
PhageLab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PhageLab develops and sells bacteriophage-based biological products that target and eliminate specific pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli) in commercial poultry and livestock operations as a natural alternative to antibiotics. Its offering combines an AI-driven sampling and phage-selection protocol, proprietary bacterial and phage collections, NGS-based diagnostics (INSPEKTOR), and on-farm phage cocktail formulations (FÓRMIDA, PHAGEIN) deployed through direct field service or licensing to animal health companies.
Product overview
PhageLab develops a portfolio of sustainable, bacteriophage-based solutions for controlling bacterial outbreaks in livestock and poultry. The product suite consists of three core offerings: INSPEKTOR (diagnostic platform for bacterial analysis and sample processing), FÓRMIDA (formulation solution for E. coli control in livestock), and PHAGEIN (calf diarrhea treatment developed with MSD Animal Health). All products leverage AI and machine learning to optimize phage selection and deployment, enabling targeted elimination of pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli without damaging beneficial bacteria.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- INSPEKTOR: Full analysis of samples of present bacteria - generates actionable data on bacteria, understanding their virulence, antibiotic resistance, and origins in industrial settings.
- FÓRMIDA
- PHAGEIN
Products and services
- INSPEKTOR
- FÓRMIDA
- PHAGEIN
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 6-log (1-million-fold) reduction in Salmonella load in poultry
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PhageLab
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PhageLab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
PhageLab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MSD Animal HealthcoreMajor animal health company that launched PHAGEIN in Brazil using technology developed by PhageLab to combat neonatal calf diarrhea. Represents a significant licensing partnership for product commercialization.
- Beluga Animal HealthminorFounder Rinse Jan Boersma of Beluga Animal Health is a strategic partner and supporter of PhageLab's mission to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
PhageLab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Elanco Animal Health: Major global animal health company offering pharmaceuticals and vaccines for livestock and pets. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the antibiotic-alternatives budget and as a potential strategic acquirer of phage platforms.
- MSD Animal Health: One of the world's largest animal health companies and PhageLab's licensing partner (PHAGEIN). Broad incumbent offering vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics across livestock and companion animals — comparable as PhageLab's distribution channel and as a potential acquirer or competitor.
- IDEXX Laboratories: Global leader in veterinary diagnostics (water testing, livestock and companion animal diagnostics). Comparable for PhageLab's INSPEKTOR diagnostic business and as a potential channel partner or competitive threat in farm-level bacterial diagnostics.
- Zoetis: World's largest pure-play animal health company with broad portfolio across livestock pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostics. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for the same animal-health budget PhageLab targets and as a potential licensing or M&A counterparty.
Emerging players
- PhagePro: US-based startup developing phage-based interventions targeting poultry-specific pathogens including Salmonella. Emerging peer with overlapping poultry focus and similar antimicrobial-resistance value proposition, though at earlier stage.
- Eligo Bioscience: France-based biotech developing phage-derived (eligobiotics) precision antimicrobials. Comparable platform technology using engineered phages for targeted bacterial control, though with a primary focus on human microbiome rather than animal health.
Direct peers
- Intralytix: US-based pioneer in bacteriophage products with FDA-cleared food safety and animal health applications (e.g., ListShield, SalmoFresh). Directly comparable as a commercial-stage phage company targeting bacterial pathogens in food and animal production.
- Micreos: Netherlands-based company with phage-based products (e.g., PhageGuard) for food safety and animal health. Directly comparable as a commercial phage platform with products targeting Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli in food and livestock applications.
- Proteon Pharmaceuticals: Poland-based company developing bacteriophage products primarily for aquaculture and livestock. Directly comparable technology platform targeting bacterial diseases in animal production with a similar pipeline-stage commercialization approach.
- Fixed Phage: UK-based company developing bacteriophage-based solutions for animal health and aquaculture. Closest direct peer to PhageLab, applying phage technology to bacterial control in livestock and food production with similar OEM and direct distribution models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PhageLab social profiles
Digital presencePhageLab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PhageLab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
PhageLab subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PhageLab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PhageLab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PhageLab
What does PhageLab do?
PhageLab develops and sells bacteriophage-based biological products that target and eliminate specific pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella, E. coli) in commercial poultry and livestock operations as a natural alternative to antibiotics. Its offering combines an AI-driven sampling and phage-selection protocol, proprietary bacterial and phage collections, NGS-based diagnostics (INSPEKTOR), and on-farm phage cocktail formulations (FÓRMIDA, PHAGEIN) deployed through direct field service or licensing to animal health companies.
Is PhageLab a public or private company?
PhageLab is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PhageLab founded?
PhageLab was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PhageLab based?
PhageLab is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, in the Latin America region.
How does PhageLab make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bacteriophage Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and diagnostic Services.
Who are PhageLab's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Elanco Animal Health, MSD Animal Health, IDEXX Laboratories and Zoetis. Emerging players are PhagePro and Eligo Bioscience. Direct peers are Intralytix, Micreos, Proteon Pharmaceuticals and Fixed Phage.
Does PhageLab have an API?
No public API is recorded for PhageLab.
What industry is PhageLab in?
PhageLab's product category is Animal Health Biotechnology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAEAE, Antimicrobials & Anti-infectives, with a secondary code of HLAMAEAB, Livestock & Production Animal Therapeutics (Rx). Its NAICS code is 3111 and its SIC code is 200.